Comments on: Will Netflix Go Global in 2011? Maybe, but It Won’t Be Easy

By: After Missing Its Shot at Netflix, Amazon Buys Lovefilm: Online Video News «

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:19:46 +0000

[...] And after what it sees as a successful rollout there, Netflix has been making noise lately about accelerating its international push and entering new markets this year. That could mean that Netflix might soon launch in the U.K., facing off against Lovefilm [...]

By: Bobbie Johnson

Bobbie Johnson — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:42:31 +0000

Jack: having just moved back to the UK from the US, I think the difference between the two countries that you hint at doesn’t exist. The network Netflix currently uses around America is not really any more advanced than Britain’s (in many cases, it’s much worse). That’s not to say you don’t have a point: I’m now living very centrally in a non-major city and I can only get a couple of megs. Rural users in most countries get dealt a terrible hand.

Eric and FTM: both valid points. I don’t think there’s even a suggestion that Netflix would roll out the US service abroad. But I think it takes a lot of local talent and knowledge to forge the right deals, tick the right boxes and understand the differences between consumers in different countries.

I’ll certainly be interested to see how they try to expand.

By: FTM

FTM — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:01:02 +0000

Content is king. Netflix will need to carry local / relevant content to reach living rooms across the globe. From the European babel tower to Bollywood, greater China, Korea and Japan, Netflix needs to truly understand the pulse of the consumers. Of course they can start with Hollywood content only, but that carries the risk of marginalization. Or, Netflix will need international collaborators who can not only bring in local content, but also support local marketing.

If Netflix is serious about multi-continent business, I doubt if they can pull it off without local collaborators.

By: Eric

Eric — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 14:41:25 +0000

As much as I would love for this to happen there is one additional problem to overcome: Localization

This includes problems in
1. Release dates (release of US films in Israel can be same day or up to 3 months behind the US release) so you need to be careful not to cannibalize your existing market. I seem to recall Chocolate was still in the theaters here when the US DVDs hit the market.

2. Local language. In some countries you need to either subtitle local language or voice over the dialog. And the rules are different for live action and animated films. In Israel all films get subtitles, while animated films also need a version with dubbed voice overs for small children that can not handle subtitles yet. Thus you have 2 releases of animated films (day time with dub and night with subtitles).
3. Cultural changes. For example the film “Cloudy with a chance of meatballs” was released here as “Cloudy with a chance of falafel.” Occasionally phrases are changed in translation/ dubbed versions to support local cultural experiences too.

By: JACK

JACK — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:55:37 +0000

The biggest problem hasn’t even been noted – the digital divide.

I live in England in an area where I’m even lucky to get 1/2mbps from my connection. I’m hardly living on a farm, but I’m not in a city either – I’m in limbo between the two as are many people in the UK.
The telecommunications infrastructure in the UK isn’t suited for Netflix to be adopted by a lot of the population because the speeds aren’t there to enable it.

I would LOVE to be able to use it – but the chances are I won’t be able to for quite some time.