Netflix comes to Bangladesh
Streaming pioneer Netflix significantly expanded its global footprint making its Internet TV service available in 130 new markets, including Bangladesh.
The internet TV network expanded to more than 130 countries apart from China, Syria, Crimea and North Korea.
The company made the announcement Wednesday -- and the service went live -- during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings at Consumer Electronics Show 2016, read a media release of Netflix.
"Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network," Hastings said at the show in Las Vegas.
Netflix's original content -- in which the company is spending billions of dollars -- is available worldwide, but the exact catalog for users varies based on their country, reports TechCrunch.
For one monthly price, members around the world would 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, Netflix's media release read.
In 2016, the company 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 -- available at the same time to members everywhere.
While largely available in English in most new countries, Netflix added Arabic, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese to the 17 languages it already supports, the Netflix press release read.
Since Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007, the service has expanded globally, first to Canada, then to Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan to include 60 countries.
Netflix is available on virtually any device that has an Internet connection, including personal computers, tablets, smartphones, Smart TVs and game consoles, and automatically provides the best possible streaming quality based on available bandwidth.
LOCAL FLAVORS
According to AFP, the global reach also means that Netflix should be tapping into more local talent for original productions from various parts of the world. Hastings and Ted Sarandos, head of content acquisition for Netflix, were confident that people around the world are hungry for on-demand films and shows.
"We are just throwing out the old paradigm; everything is gone," said actor Will Arnett, who will star in an upcoming Netflix comedy series titled Flaked,” reports AFP.
"Everything you do is available everywhere around the world at the same time, it is amazing."
Netflix is ahead of key rivals in streaming such as Amazon and Hulu, which have also begun to produce original content.
The rapid expansion is likely to impact the bottom line at Netflix. In its most recent quarterly update, the company said that it expects "to run around break-even through 2016 and to deliver material profits thereafter."
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