Digital TV News

Netflix to fly into the UK early next year

Monday 24 October, 2011

By Kelvin Goodson

But more people are adding additional services like HD and multiroom

UK viewers will have another option for streaming movies and TV shows to their computers and television sets from early 2012 .

Netflix will be available in the UK and Ireland from early next year, the internet movie and TV subscription service has said.

Viewers in the UK and Ireland who sign-up to the service will be able to instantly stream unlimited movies and TV shows to their TV or computer for a monthly subscription fee.

Netflix, which started in the US in 2007 and has expanded to Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America, said it has “revolutionised entertainment across the Americas” by giving those that use the service “a huge selection of movies and TV shows to enjoy when and where they want”.

Users will be able to use Netflix to watch TV shows and movies via a range of electronic devices, such as internet-connected television sets, PCs, Macs, tablet computers and smartphones.

The company said it will announce further details about its service, including pricing, content and device compatibility, closer to the launch.

In the meantime, those interested in subscribing to Netflix can sign-up to receive an email alert letting them know when the service has been launched by going to the company’s website.

Research published last week by research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics found 10% of Europeans had used the internet to watch TV shows and movies in the past month, compared to 20% in the US.

The report found the difference reflected the “relative strength” of internet movie and TV streaming services such as Hulu and Netflix in the US. Netflix will be competing with the likes of LOVEFiLM and YouTube’s new movie service in the UK.