Film and television fans are set for greater competition in the home entertainment market after the world's biggest internet streaming service launched in Ireland and the UK today.
US giant Netflix has already signed up 20 million members worldwide since launching its online streaming service in 2007. It streams movies and shows online to televisions and computers for a monthly subscription. It will offer unlimited access to local and global films and TV programmes for a monthly fee of €6.99 in Ireland.
The Nasdaq-listed business is also offering film fans a free one-month trial and has signed digital licensing deals with the BBC, ITV and Hollywood studios such as MGM, Miramax and Lionsgate.
Meanwhile, BSkyB announced today it is entering a "strategic partnership" with television app service zeebox.
The service, which will be made available to Sky customers in the first half of this year, helps viewers talk about and get additional information on their favourite TV programmes using smartphones and tablets, and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
