Today, The Daily Show website joins a long list of innovative online content services, such as Hulu and Pandora Internet Radio, that are unavailable to Australian residents.

Attempting to view an episode of The Daily Show from an Australian IP address results in the following:

Other services, like iTunes and Audible, offer limited catalogues of content to their Australian users. And movies and television series that are made available to Australians months after they’re made available elsewhere.

The frustration is ineffable.

A number of people have noted that you can use VPN services, such as HotSpotVPN, or other US-based proxies to make these sites believe you’re connecting from within the US. You can, of course. But, other than the extra cost, you’d be in breach of the terms of service:

This Site is offered and made available only to users 18 years of age or older who reside in United States of America. If you are not yet 18 years old, or do not reside in the United States, please discontinue using the Site immediately … by using or attempting to use the Site, you certify that you are at least 18 years of age and meet any other eligibility and residency requirements of the Site.

At least we have Foxtel.com.au, where you can watch ads for Foxtel 24-hours-a-day.