Get out your diaries and pencil in 24th March because that fateful day is the day that Australia and New Zealand finally, officially, get digital service Netflix. With the launch of the service will be thousands of hours of movies, TV shows, and kids programming.
“Many Aussies and Kiwis have heard a lot about Netflix over the years, and we’re excited they’ll get to experience our unique blend of Netflix original content, local series and films, and popular movies and TV shows from around the world, all for a low monthly price,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer.
The leading Internet network has also announced that they will be partnering with companies like iiNet and Microsoft Xbox. While Netflix will be available on all major Australian broadband operators, customers of iiNet will be able to enjoy their entertainment with no fear of the usage counting against any home data caps. This is the first un-metering agreement announced with a major broadband provider in Australia.
“Offering our customers quota-free access to Netflix is yet another demonstration of iiNet’s commitment to providing our customers great, hassle-free entertainment experiences,” said David Buckingham, chief executive officer of iiNet. “iiNet is proud to facilitate consumers’ access to this great entertainment service.”
Netflix will be available on smart televisions manufactured by Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, and HiSense, and Fetch TV’s second-gen set-top box. Film and TV fans can also access the service on gaming consoles, including PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and the Wii U, as well as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and tablets and smartphones by Apple and Android.
Those on specific plans offered by Vodafone in NZ will be granted access to several months of prepaid service with Netflix. Similarly, anyone who purchases Microsoft’s Xbox One at select stores will be given access to three months prepaid Netflix, starting 24th March and for a limited time only.
“Xbox has a long association with Netflix around the world, and with this announcement we’re excited to bring our partnership to the millions of Xbox owners across Australia and New Zealand,” said Jeremy Hinton, business group lead for Interactive Entertainment at Microsoft Australia. “With Xbox One we are committed to delivering the best entertainment experience in Australian and New Zealand living rooms.”
Netflix gift cards will be available from participating Australian retailers like Woolworths, Coles, Big W, 7-Eleven, Australia Post, and Officeworks, and will be in denominations of $20, $30, and $50.
The service will offer a single-stream standard definition plan, two-stream high-definition plan and four-stream 4K ultra-high definition “family” plan. Details on monthly pricing will be available at launch.
Those connected to the internet (which should be about everyone in this day and age) will be able able to subscribe to Netflix instantly from launch date, giving them access to a curated selection of popular movies and TV shows in HD or Ultra HD 4K where available. Netflix original series will include Marco Polo, Sense8, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Marvel’s Daredevil, DreamWorks Animation’s The Adventures of Puss in Boots, and All Hail King Julien. Netflix members will also be given access to a range of exclusives from many of the world’s leading distributors, like Roadshow Entertainment, Beyond Distribution, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and The Walt Disney Company.
Amongst the original series on Netflix will be the new family drama/thiller Bloodline, the first two episodes of which will be reviewed on The Iris tomorrow.
From today, Netflix has also officially launched it’s social channels. These channels will often be the first platforms where new Netflix news, updates, and exclusives are announced so do yourself a favour and follow Netflix on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, TUMBLR, and INSTAGRAM
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