Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is one of the most popular streaming services out there. It is available in many countries around the world, but the company is just getting started and they are planning to bring their service to many other places.
Netflix is now planning to launch in the Middle East next year. This was confirmed by Joris Evers, the company’s Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, who said that they’ve already stated that their ambition is to be global by the end of next year and that this obviously includes this region. The company’s Vice President added that they can’t give an exact date yet, but it will certainly be by the end of the year.
Debut
Evers talked about the expectations and the debut for the service in the region. He said that there can be a tendency to expect too much when they arrive to a new market. He added that people have to keep in mind the licensing regulations, which can sometimes leave out some of the content that the users want, and are very complex.
He talked about the deals that some companies have with others, giving them the rights to screen their films. Evers mentioned that the deal with Marvel makes it possible for members of the service to keep watching the new seasons of shows such as Jessica Jones and Daredevil.
Netflix is just getting started on the original content and plans to deliver more next year. The popular streaming service has caught the attention of viewers with great shows and films these last few months. Their first show, House of Cards, is a hit and one that Evers says was a gamble. He went on to say that the gamble paid off and that next year, they’ll be doubling the number of shows they produce to more than 30.
Original Content
Two days ago, Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, said during a conference that the company is working on ten feature films, 30 children’s series, 12 feature documentaries, ten stand-up comedy specials and two documentary series.
There is one issue in the region and that is piracy, according to experts. Companies there have tried various things, including a campaign telling viewers that there are legitimate ways of watching their favorite shows. Evers hopes their arrival helps change this.
Evers explained that by having high-quality content, and a high-quality stream, they can show people that it is easier to watch their favorite shows and movies through the service than having to look for a download, which can sometimes be in bad quality.
Netflix plans to spend $5 billion on content next year and will arrive to many other countries soon. The company now has over 70 million members worldwide. Netflix had its first film in theaters recently and is already looking to bring more. The service will arrive to Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea next year.
