Netflix has officially confirmed something everyone seems to have already known, that Netflix will be coming to Australian (and New Zealand) shores in 2015. To be more precise, Netflix will be here in March 2015, around the same time as channel Nine and Fairfax's competing service, Stan (previously known as StreamCo).
With Seven looking to partnering with Quickflix, Optus or Foxtel's Presto, and Ten also looking at a partnership with Foxtel to enter the potentially lucrative "all-you-can-eat" streaming market, a space that has largely been ignored will suddenly be fiercely competed throughout 2015. Foxtel is also planning a re-launch of their Presto service to include TV shows, including (non first run) HBO programming.
The dream of all local TV networks joining forces to take on Netflix in a Hulu Plus like service appears dead for now, with fragmentation likely to hand the advantage to the established and well known Netflix, who already unofficially have more than 200,000 subscribers in Australia (via the use of geo-unblocking methods). The local networks are working together to provide content via the FreeviewPlus Catch Up service.
The first shot in the streaming wars has already been fired by Stan, having successfully negotiated first-airing rights to the 'Breaking Bad' prequel 'Better Call Saul'. While Netflix has yet to confirm local pricing for their subscription video-on-demand service, which will be around the $10 per month mark, Nine's Stan will most likely arrive with a $9.99 per month price tag.
