Netflix exec calls NZ a 'very attractive territory'
But Netflix fans should be wary of the law of unintended consequences, and a quirk that could benefit Lightbox.
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Hawke’s Bay
A Netflix executive has called New Zealand a "very attractive territory", a comment that's certain to re-ignite rumours of a local launch.
The US based Netflix has more than 50 million subscribers worldwide, around 40 million of them in its home country.
Analysts says a Netflix launch here would have limited impact on Sky TV given the US streaming service's emphasis on back-catalogue content over new releases or sports. However, it could crimp Sky's growth, and it could hit local streaming services such as Quickflix and Spark's Lightbox, which has the ambitious target of signing 70,000 subs by June next year.
However, there are wheels within wheels. If Netflix wants to foster an NZ version of its service, which would likely be more thinly populated with content due ot local rights issues, it might finally take action to block Kiwis who access its US content – which, ironically, could help Lightbox and Quickflix a lot.
Not that the locals can relax. Time Warner's investor day announcement that it will stream its HBO channel directly over the internet next year (though also keep traditional partners), giving viewers the option to cut out the middle man.
US trade publication Variety reports that Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos made the comment during a "meaty keynote address" at the Mipcom industry conference in Cannes on Tuesday (Wednesday) NZ time.
“Pretty soon we’ll have only Asia left in terms of expansion,” said Sarandos. “We have a desire to be global, it’s just a matter of timing.”
He also tipped off Mipcom attendees as to which Asian country intrigued him most.
“An interesting thing about Japan is the fact that the largest markets in the world for Japanese animation is Japan, France and America, all the places where we have very big footprints, or we hope to,” he said. “So it will be a very interesting scale play in different parts of the world.
“Australia and New Zealand are also very attractive territories – English-speaking obviously, love US content.”
Chris Keall
Thu, 16 Oct 2014
Thu, 16 Oct 2014
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Netflix exec calls NZ a 'very attractive territory'
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