Australian consumers are being forced to pay staggeringly high premiums for access to TV series when compared to overseas markets, even when the content is delivered online through legal streaming or on-demand services, consumer advocacy group Choice has found.

Season two of the popular Netflix series Orange is the New Black costs Australians a minimum of $27.26 (plus GST) through Google Play to own a digital copy, 219 per cent more than US Netflix customers pay to stream it, Choice found. Through Foxtel Play (on-demand) consumers pay $45.45 for access to the series, 431 per cent more than via Netflix.

Choice says an 'Australia tax' is being imposed on Australian TV consumers. Credit:Bloomberg

In another example, Choice compared Australian access to the upcoming season five of The Walking Dead. The cheapest consumers will be able to watch it for is $39.99 through iTunes, 376 per cent more than UK NowTV customers will pay to stream it. If watching the show via Foxtel Home, consumers will pay up to 300 per cent more.

In some cases, Choice said consumers "simply can't access shows they want to watch" from an Australian provider at all.