An estimated 200,000 Australians already subscribe to U.S. streaming service Netflix using geoblocking software. To some, this is a sign that Aussies are willing to pay real money for digital content if it’s reasonably priced and easily available. To others, it’s a threat to the balls-out insane prices that local content providers are presently able to charge.
Earlier this week, the CEO of local streaming service Qlickflix wrote an open letter to Netflix, and said that by allowing non-U.S. residents to use the service, they are passively depriving local copyright holders of a fair shake. He challenged the company to crack down on users who access the service via geoblocking software and “come through the front door” into the Australian market.
Well, it seems Netflix are getting ready to do just that. There has been a good deal of speculation about the company’s entry into Australia, and the Sydney Morning Herald report that today, they secured exclusive Australian video on demand rights to the forthcoming superhero TV series Gotham. That they’ve taken on such a high-profile and highly-anticipated show is a sure sign they’re gearing up for action.
It’s worth noting that Channel Nine hold the broadcast, first run and in-season catch-up rights to Gotham, a prequel story set in Batman’s famous home town and starring The O.C.‘s Ben McKenzie. This means that Netflix would likely not be able to start streaming it until some point in the first half of 2015, which may be some indication of when the company plans to make its legitimate push into the country.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions – for instance, how much content will be on offer, and will Aussies who access the U.S. version of Netflix for around $9 a month get the same kind of value when the service launches in Australia? All this remains to be seen, and Netflix have still yet to make a definite statement either way, but their acquisition of Gotham makes it seem like a matter of time.
Elsewhere on the streaming front, Nine and Fairfax are teaming up for something called StreamCo (sounds like a real winner), while the Seven Network are reportedly in talks to create a service of their own. Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch is aggressively eyeing off the local internet market, and will begin rolling out combined Foxtel pay TV and broadband bundles early next year.
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