Netflix Heading To Australia As Rivals Prepare For A Fight

Netflix Inc is to launch its streaming service in Australia and New Zealand in March, with domestic rivals already shaping up for a fight. Netflix had been expected to expand into the territories for some time and the move continues its international expansion - which now reaches 50 million people.

"The risk with Netflix is that it can replace existing home media sources like free-to-air or pay TV or things like that," one cinema analyst told Reuters.

There may be a glimmer of hope for Netflix rivals. As Dan Barrett of The Guardian notes, many subscribers in Australia and New Zealand are likely to be disappointed by a smaller library that will miss out several key titles. Netflix will not offer House of Cards or Orange is the New Black - two of its signature series - when it launches down under, instead offering the yet-to-launch Marco Polo and BoJack Horseman.

More: will Netflix's new pricing plan affect you?

Last month, Netflix launched in France with a severely limited library that was just enough to justify its 8.99 euro monthly cost.

Nevertheless, the streaming service will increase in value in 2015 with the launch of numerous high-profile series including the Marvel superhero show Daredevil, new sci-fi series called Sens8 and a new Lily Tomlin comedy, Grace & Frankie.