Netflix launching in Japan
February 5, 2015
By Nik Roseveare
Netflix will expand into Japan this autumn, as it moves to complete its global rollout by the end of 2016.
“With its rich culture and celebrated creative traditions, Japan is a critical component of our plan to connect people around the world to stories they love,” said Reed Hastings, chief executive officer at Netflix. “As we expand into Asia, we’re excited Netflix members increasingly will have access to some of their favourite movies and TV shows no matter where they are.”
At launch, in addition to a selection of Japanese TV series and films, Netflix will offer original series including Marco Polo, Sense8, Marvel’s Daredevil, and the Academy Award-nominated documentary Virunga. The rollout in Japan, with about 36 million broadband households, will follow the previously announced March expansion of the Netflix service into Australia and New Zealand.
To facilitate partnerships with consumer electronics makers and to work with Japanese film and TV creators, Netflix will soon open a regional office in Tokyo. Gregory K. Peters, chief streaming and partnerships officer at Netflix since 2013, has been promoted to general manager of Netflix Japan.
“It is an honor to bring Netflix to Japan, and we’ll work hard to please consumers there,” said Peters.