Netflix service coming to the UK and Ireland in early 2012

[garlad]

Can anyone confirm if this will be available on the PS3 like in the US???

US-based online video streaming service to take on LoveFilm and YouTube

The US online video rental service Netflix is to launch in the UK and Ireland in early 2012.

Netflix confirmed its first move into Europe on Monday, six years after shelving previous plans to launch in the UK.

British and Irish film fans will be able to subscribe to Netflix for a monthly fee – probably about £5 a month – to rent an unlimited number of TV shows and movies to stream online. The company did not reveal exact pricing for subscribers.

Netflix is the most popular film subscription website in the US, with more than 25 million users in its domestic market, Canada and Latin America.

Since it launched in 1997, Netflix has delivered DVDs by post as well as allowing viewers to stream films online. Netflix will offer online streaming only in the UK and Ireland, it is understood.

The UK launch will put Netflix in direct competition with Amazon's LoveFilm, which has more than 1.6 million subscribers in the UK and Europe, and Google-owned YouTube, which launched film rentals for British users earlier this month.

Netflix charges US users $7.99 (£5) a month to stream an unlimited number of films and TV hits, including Mad Men and The Walking Dead. LoveFilm has five different price models, ranging from £4.99 a month to £19.39 a month, based on how many DVDs users want to rent at the same time.

In the US, Netflix has increasingly moved to compete with the large TV networks, including CBS and Fox, by acquiring the rights to high-quality drama such as Kevin Spacey's House of Cards directly from producers and distributors, meaning they can be aired in the so-called "first-run window".

Some US broadcasters responded to this new competition by hiking the prices of their licensing deals with Netflix, meaning some films including The Social Network have had to be pulled from the streaming site.

A tumultuous year for Netflix shares has wiped $7bn off the company's market capitalisation since early April, to $5.7bn on Monday.

The Netlfix chief executive, Reed Hastings, reversed the company's much-criticised plans to split its DVD-by-post and online streaming service into two separate companies earlier this month. In September, Hastings apologised on the company's official blog for the way it handled a rise in subscription prices that prompted a backlash from some users.

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[slick1ru2]

While I can't confirm it, I would bet on it. Part of NetFlix appeal is how they offer apps for over 100 devices.

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

Shame. I probably don't have the capable broadband to actually use the service properly. Blasted father!

[slick1ru2]

You probably can watch downgraded movies with 1.5mbps, and be ok with 3. Good thing about them, they have a free trial.

[AndyD]

With the 'excessive usage' charges applied by my ISP, I won't be using Netflix online.

I reckon it'll be EUR7.99 - 9.99 in Ireland but would actually cost me a helluva lot more. Stupid ISP!

[garlad]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

While I can't confirm it, I would bet on it. Part of NetFlix appeal is how they offer apps for over 100 devices.

Thanks, good to know!

Originally Posted by andydlp

With the 'excessive usage' charges applied by my ISP, I won't be using Netflix online.

I reckon it'll be EUR7.99 - 9.99 in Ireland but would actually cost me a helluva lot more. Stupid ISP!

My broadband is quite good thankfully, and it's unlimited. Move to UPC Andy! Despite their shocking customer service, it's super fast broadband!

Sent from my Xperia Arc using Tapatalk

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

Originally Posted by garlad

My broadband is quite good thankfully, and it's unlimited. Move to UPC Andy! Despite their shocking customer service, it's super fast broadband!

You're just lucky. I'll have to check if it's in my area yet, and if it is, I've got a lot of bargaining to do to my father to get it.

[AndyD]

Originally Posted by garlad

My broadband is quite good thankfully, and it's unlimited. Move to UPC Andy! Despite their shocking customer service, it's super fast broadband!

Originally Posted by Nerdkiller likes BD

You're just lucky. I'll have to check if it's in my area yet, and if it is, I've got a lot of bargaining to do to my father to get it.

I'm currently with Eircom and can't wait for my contract to finish up. 8MB they say....complete joke!

I did call UPC about fibre-optic broadband before I went to Eircom.
First they told me it wasn't available in my area and then they said it was.
They said a customer service rep or whatever would call me to arrange installation date. I never got the call so I said, screw them.
Definitely regret going to Eircom though.

[AikonEnt]

Do you lot have Virgin Media in Ireland? I've been using them for years and never had an issue. My broadband with them runs at 20mbps but they do go up to 50mbps (and apparantly 100mbps if your willing to pay).

[garlad]

Originally Posted by andydlp

I'm currently with Eircom and can't wait for my contract to finish up. 8MB they say....complete joke!

I did call UPC about fibre-optic broadband before I went to Eircom.
First they told me it wasn't available in my area and then they said it was.
They said a customer service rep or whatever would call me to arrange installation date. I never got the call so I said, screw them.
Definitely regret going to Eircom though.

When I lived at home, we were on the 8MB pack too, but never got that. 2MB-3MB if we were lucky. Upload speed was practically zero!

Originally Posted by AikonEnt

Do you lot have Virgin Media in Ireland? I've been using them for years and never had an issue. My broadband with them runs at 20mbps but they do go up to 50mbps (and apparantly 100mbps if your willing to pay).

No we don’t have Virgin Media. It might come over at some stage. There is talk of Sky bringing their broadband over which would be handy – TV and internet all in one.

UPC tends not to be available in rural areas just yet, only towns and cities for the most part.

But it’s really fast. 20mbps and more if you pay for it. €40 a month for my unlimited pack (that included phone line rental).

Anyone know how good/bad the Netflix app for the PS3 is in the US?

How soon are TV shows available once aired on TV? And what about movies? Once they leave the cinema, are they on Netflix just as soon as they become available in video rental stores?

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

Originally Posted by AikonEnt

Do you lot have Virgin Media in Ireland? I've been using them for years and never had an issue. My broadband with them runs at 20mbps but they do go up to 50mbps (and apparantly 100mbps if your willing to pay).

We don't have Virgin Media...but UPC does indeed go up to 100Mb for €55 a month. But yeah, as Gar said above me, we should go Sky Broadband unlimited to top off our TV subscription. But if not, I guess UPC once it's available here.

[Steedeel]

The quality will be pretty poor in my opinion. not even dvd quality, although the resolution will be better than dvd, the compression will not in my opinion. Even with fibre optic i think Netflix caters to the lowest common denominator. 3.8 mbps for HD is quite laughable in my opinion.

That's the most i have ever used the phrase 'in my opinion' in my opinion!

[AndyD]

Originally Posted by garlad

There is talk of Sky bringing their broadband over which would be handy – TV and internet all in one.

UPC tends not to be available in rural areas just yet, only towns and cities for the most part.

But it’s really fast. 20mbps and more if you pay for it. €40 a month for my unlimited pack (that included phone line rental).

Originally Posted by Nerdkiller likes BD

We don't have Virgin Media...but UPC does indeed go up to 100Mb for €55 a month. But yeah, as Gar said above me, we should go Sky Broadband unlimited to top off our TV subscription. But if not, I guess UPC once it's available here.

I currently pay between EUR35 - 70 a month for broadband depending on how much I use it. Sky broadband would be good but I already give those b@stards enough money for my tv every month so it had better be cheap!
I live in South Dublin and I'm pretty sure UPC is definitely available now so I might go with them once my current contract finishes up.

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The quality will be pretty poor in my opinion. not even dvd quality, although the resolution will be better than dvd, the compression will not in my opinion. Even with fibre optic i think Netflix caters to the lowest common denominator. 3.8 mbps for HD is quite laughable in my opinion.

Unless I could watch my stuff in great and clear HD then I wouldn't bother. I find it difficult to watch SD programming nowadays. HD has spoiled me so!

[garlad]

Originally Posted by Nerdkiller likes BD

We don't have Virgin Media...but UPC does indeed go up to 100Mb for €55 a month. But yeah, as Gar said above me, we should go Sky Broadband unlimited to top off our TV subscription. But if not, I guess UPC once it's available here.

Sky broadband would rock! Then we could get Sky Anytime+!!

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The quality will be pretty poor in my opinion. not even dvd quality, although the resolution will be better than dvd, the compression will not in my opinion. Even with fibre optic i think Netflix caters to the lowest common denominator. 3.8 mbps for HD is quite laughable in my opinion.

That's the most i have ever used the phrase 'in my opinion' in my opinion!

Very disappointing to hear

Originally Posted by andydlp

I currently pay between EUR35 - 70 a month for broadband depending on how much I use it. Sky broadband would be good but I already give those b@stards enough money for my tv every month so it had better be cheap!
I live in South Dublin and I'm pretty sure UPC is definitely available now so I might go with them once my current contract finishes up.



Unless I could watch my stuff in great and clear HD then I wouldn't bother. I find it difficult to watch SD programming nowadays. HD has spoiled me so!

Don't diss Sky! I'd be lost without them! Worth every penny!

I'm in Naas, not too far away!

You're right.. if we can't stream HD, I'm not sure sure I'd be pushed either!

I only look through the HD menu on Sky!

[Steedeel]

Sky are a perfect example of how to do HD correctly. At least compared to the horror show that is HD streaming!

[AndyD]

Originally Posted by garlad

Don't diss Sky! I'd be lost without them! Worth every penny!

I'm in Naas, not too far away!

You're right.. if we can't stream HD, I'm not sure sure I'd be pushed either!

I only look through the HD menu on Sky!

I love my Sky but EUR 85.00 a month is a lot for tv.
I'm based in Tallaght btw so yeah, not too far away.

Ok, back on topic. If I can't stream HD stuff on Netflix then I won't even consider subscribing

[Steedeel]

'HD' is debatable in terms of streaming.

[The_Donster]

Honestly gang, I'd take Steedeel's comments with a grain of salt. He's been pretty vocal when it has come to Netflix even though it isn't available in the UK yet. I can tell you from experience that it isn't as bad as some folks would have you believe. I've enjoyed streaming so much that I've gone down to basic cable and use it and the BD rental primarily for my viewing pleasure. Still, I'd recommend checking it out once it hits your area. If works for you, fine. If it doesn't that is ok too. At least you can make a decision or comments based on your experience and not someone else's snap judgement over something they haven't

[Steedeel]

It doesn't take much to work out it is going to look like crap with 3.8mbps. Anyone used to Sky HD or Virgin HD will be pretty shocked by the lack of quality in my opinion. Yes, i am biased against streaming technology, but i am also pretty sure it is not going to look too good on a large screen tv. (i have sampled it, just not in UK)

Donster, you obviously have low standards. If you are willing to suffer less than dvd quality (in my opinion) so be it. The rest of us want something to look good on a large tv otherwise what is the point.

[The_Donster]

Like I said, when and if Netflix comes to the UK check it out for yourself. It is a nice alternative and some times has things that aren't available on BD yet. Hopefully I've made my point without insulting any of you.