Netflix is still interested in launching their Netflix operation in Australia despite the expansion of the local Quickflix operation to Sony, LG and Panasonic TVs.
Netflix has confirmed that they will launch their service in Europe in 2012 with the UK and Spain tipped as Countries where thie service will be rolled out.
According to industry bible Variety, the Company that already has a “massive” footprint in the USA and is one of the biggest users of the US postal service for their DVD Service met with movie distributors last week to discuss the expansion of Netflix globally. Australia was one of the Countries discussed.
Variety said that Netflix’s ambitious travel plans could also help explain the stunning decision announced by the Company last week to raise the price on subscribers who want to both stream video and receive discs by mail. Many analysts interpreted the price hike as a move meant to help fund Netflix’s skyrocketing content costs, which international territories will undoubtedly compound given the need to secure both local and imported programming to each region.
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter estimates Netflix’s global content bill could amount to $2 billion by 2012.
Earlier this year Netflix announced plans to expand its rental and on-demand service to 43 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Every TV Vendor that SmartHouse has spoken to has said that they will be interested in taking Netflix in as an IPTV service. LG, Panasonic and Sony currently offer the Netflix service in the USA via their TV and Blu ray players.
