(Image Credit: TechCrunch)
Netflix, the world’s leading internet TV service, has today launched in more than 130 new countries around the world, expanding to a total of over 190 countries with over 70 million subscribers. The company made the announcement during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings at CES 2016 in Las Vegas. “Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network,” said Hastings. While the list of new countries includes the likes of Russia, India, Pakistan, UAE and more, the service has not been made available in China.
“With this launch, consumers around the world — from Singapore to St. Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo — will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simultaneously — no more waiting. With the help of the Internet, we are putting power in consumers’ hands to watch whenever, wherever and on whatever device.”
For one monthly price, members around the world will be able to enjoy Netflix original series including Marvel’s Daredevil and Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Narcos, Sense8, Grace and Frankie, and Marco Polo, as well as a catalog of licensed TV shows and movies.
While largely available in English in most new countries, Netflix today added Arabic, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese to the 17 languages it already supports. “From today onwards, we will listen and we will learn, gradually adding more languages, more content and more ways for people to engage with Netflix,” said Hastings. In addition to China, the service also won’t be available in Crimea, North Korea and Syria due to U.S. government restrictions on American companies.
… Netflix is now global. #NetflixEverywhere
— Netflix US (@netflix) January 6, 2016
In 2016, Netflix plans to release 31 new and returning original series, two dozen original feature films and documentaries, a wide range of stand-up comedy specials and 30 original kids series.
