Indian fans of international TV don’t need to surreptitiously torrent their favourite TV shows and movies any more. After over a year of speculation, Netflix is all set for its launch in the country. The company has officially announced their Indian arrival on social media.
The company has unveiled a list of plans that it will offer to its Indian viewers. The prices are comparable to what users pay in the US. Netflix’s basic US plan costs $7.99, and its Indian counterpart will cost Rs. 500 per month. The Premium plan in India will cost Rs. 800.
The basic plan will provide unlimited streaming of TV shows and movies on any device with an internet connection. To watch HD content, consumers will need a Standard plan that costs Rs. 650 per month. The Premium plan priced at Rs. 800 will offer Ultra HD, as well as access on 4 simultaneous screens.
Netflix’s India arrival comes at at a time when fast internet is increasingly becoming accessible to large sections of the population. Piracy is also rampant in the country, and Netflix will find it challenging to find paying customers among a population accustomed to illegally downloading their TV shows. The company had an outstanding 2015 with its stock price rising threefold, but user growth in the US in now slowing, and executives are looking at other markets to find new users.
Netflix’s arrival shall set the cat among the pigeons in this already crowded space, which includes Star’s Hotstar, Singapore-based Spuul, Hungama, Eros Now, Muvizz. But with the increased competition, the Indian couch potato has a lot to cheer about.