Netflix is planning to expand to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg in late 2014. While the company intends to offer subscribers the full smorgasbord of on-demand movies, television shows, and Netflix original series like House of Cards, content availability will vary depending on country. France, for example, prohibits movies from appearing on services such as Netflix until three years after their theater debut. Details about pricing, programming, and supported devices are to follow at a later date.
Netflix Inc will launch its online movie and TV subscription service later this year in France, Germany and four other European countries, in a major push into new markets. The other new countries Netflix will enter in late 2014 are Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg, the California-based company said in a statement on Wednesday. Netflix previously said it planned a substantial expansion in Europe this year but had not said specifically where. The costs of launching in the new markets will keep the company’s international unit at a loss, Netflix said in an April 21 letter to shareholders. The company will offer a mix of Hollywood, local and global TV series and movies in the new markets. It plans to include Netflix original shows such as “House of Cards” where possible, but the company doesn’t have rights to all Netflix shows in all markets. Details on programming and pricing in each country will be announced later.
