Netflix, the popular US online film and television service with have BBC content available for streaming when it is launched in teh UK and Ireland in early 2012 according to an announcement by the company. This deal with the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, will mean that Netflix users will be able to stream popular shows such as Spooks and Torchwood.
The cost of a Netflix subscription in the UK has not yet been announced, but the streaming of these shows will not likely compete with the BBC’s own iPlayer – as Netflix will stream full series and back catalogues of shows – something currently lacking from iPlayer which is simply a television catch-up service. Whilst we haven’t heard of deals with ITV, Channel4, and Five – I would imagine that such deals are in the works, and this announcement that the BBC are on board should expedite the process.
UK television fans will have a vast array of options for watching content starting in 2012, with each channel’s own TV streaming service such as iPlayer and 4OD are always increasing in popularity, the upcoming launch of YouView (formerly Project Canvas), with all major terrestrial broadcasters offering their content through a single united platform for set top boxes, and now Netflix. Watching the box will have never been easier.