09 January 2012
It's a full on streaming invasion as Netflix launches its services in the UK and Ireland.
American film-streaming giant Netflix launched its services today in the United Kingdom and Ireland with a strong offensive in the streaming turf war against Amazon's LoveFilm.
"We are starting 2012 in the best possible way: by giving consumers in the UK and Ireland an amazing entertainment experience," said Reed Hastings, co-founder and chief executive officer of Netflix.
"Now, you can enjoy as many great films and TV programmes as you want, when you want, where you want, for one low monthly price with no contracts or commitments."
The world's largest streaming service has 20 million members in the US, Canada and Latin America, and was so popular in the US it accounted for a third of all internet use in one quarter last year.
Despite this, however, Netflix suffered several difficult setbacks in the past year, shedding 800,000 customers after changes to subscription prices, and prematurely launching breakaway Quickster before nixing the scheme almost immediately.
The company has said it expects to lose money this year because of the UK expansion, as it competes with broadcasters who have their own web services, streaming companies like LoveFilm, and free services such as Channel 4's 4oD and the BBC's iPlayer.
"It's so easy to use internet television, we've got great content and it's a very low price," Hastings said. "Sure 4oD is free, iPlayer is free, LoveFilm is just getting into streaming. There's a lot of opportunities in the market."
At launch, the video-streaming service will offer films and TV programmes from a wide variety of broadcasters and studios, including All3Media, Disney UK & Ireland, the BBC, CBS, ITV, Lionsgate UK, MGM, Channel 4's 4oD, Momentum Pictures, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Miramax and Viacom International Media Networks.
Netflix launches British invasion
It's a full on streaming invasion as Netflix launches its services in the UK and Ireland. American film-streaming giant Netflix launched its services today in the United Kingdom and Ireland with a strong offensive in the streaming turf war against Amazon's LoveFilm.
"We are starting 2012 in the best possible way: by giving consumers in the UK and Ireland an amazing entertainment experience," said Reed Hastings, co-founder and chief executive officer of Netflix.
"Now, you can enjoy as many great films and TV programmes as you want, when you want, where you want, for one low monthly price with no contracts or commitments."
The world's largest streaming service has 20 million members in the US, Canada and Latin America, and was so popular in the US it accounted for a third of all internet use in one quarter last year.
Despite this, however, Netflix suffered several difficult setbacks in the past year, shedding 800,000 customers after changes to subscription prices, and prematurely launching breakaway Quickster before nixing the scheme almost immediately.
The company has said it expects to lose money this year because of the UK expansion, as it competes with broadcasters who have their own web services, streaming companies like LoveFilm, and free services such as Channel 4's 4oD and the BBC's iPlayer.
"It's so easy to use internet television, we've got great content and it's a very low price," Hastings said. "Sure 4oD is free, iPlayer is free, LoveFilm is just getting into streaming. There's a lot of opportunities in the market."
At launch, the video-streaming service will offer films and TV programmes from a wide variety of broadcasters and studios, including All3Media, Disney UK & Ireland, the BBC, CBS, ITV, Lionsgate UK, MGM, Channel 4's 4oD, Momentum Pictures, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Miramax and Viacom International Media Networks.
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