Netflix has confirmed it is launching in Australia and New Zealand with the internet movie and subscription service starting up in March 2015.
Netflix says Australian users will be able to subscribe to Netflix and instantly watch a curated selection of popular movies and TV shows in high-definition or 4K where available.
At launch Netflix’s offering will include original series as Marco Polo, BoJack Horseman and children’s titles such as DreamWorks Animation’s All Hail King Julien.
Netflix says members with a broadband connection can watch whenever, wherever they like, and on any Netflix-ready device they choose.
Users can start watching on one device, pause, and then pick up where they left off on another, at home or on the go.
SmartCompany reported on Netflix’s plans to launch in Australia earlier this year but no date was confirmed.
Local competitors, such as Quickflix and EzyFlix, previously welcomed the rumoured launch.
Stephen Langsford, founder and chief executive of Quickflix, told SmartCompany earlier this year there has been “enormous demand” for TV series on demand in Australia.
“We’re at the early days of streaming,” he says. “But we’re seeing an insatiable demand for consumers for accessing amazing TV series and movies they up to now haven’t had access to.”
Langsford said the Australian launch of Netflix would be a big win for consumers.
“It’s a great time to be a consumer because consumers are getting more choice when more and more TV series are being made available all over the globe,” he says.
He said he wasn’t concerned about increased competition in the Australian market, and said the real pressure will be on traditional media players and how they will cope with “audience leakage from broadcast to demand”.
“We have HBO and Netflix doesn’t,” he says. “We also offer the latest movies on a transactional basis. We see a huge growth ahead for Quickflix as we continue to focus on delivering more great content over the diverse platforms we’re already on.”
Cara Waters is a former SmartCompany editor. Previously, Cara was a senior reporter for the Financial Times’ website and worked for The Sunday Times in London.
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