Skip to main content

Netflix plans 2012 launch for piracy-plagued Spain

netflixThe rumors that Netflix was heading overseas to Europe seem to be confirmed. Spain will be getting first crack at the streaming and DVD rental service, though there’s no confirmation on whether Netflix will be heading to the UK as well.

The Spanish expansion was confirmed by Screen Daily in an interview with Pedro Perez, the president of the local producers’ association FAPAE. Perez revealed that Netflix was already chumming it up with several film studios in preparation for the launch.

“Netflix has already broken into the US market gaining 26 million subscribers so far and they expect to have 30 million before the end of the year who are paying between 8 and 10 dollars a month,” Perez told Screen Daily.

Netflix’ international expansion plan started with Canada and branched out to 43 countries spread out across South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. It was suspected that Netflix CEO Reed Hastings had hinted at the European campaign back in April when he told investors they were going to tap a third international market after the success of a second international market.

Analysts have pointed out that there is stiffer competition for Netflix in the UK, but Spain is quite notorious for piracy. The country has a top spot on the International Intellectual Property Alliance piracy watchlist with an annual number of 400 million illegal downloads.

The move will be a test for Netflix on whether quality legal downloads for low subscription will trump the appeal of free. Spain has a record high eurozone unemployment rate of 20%, and only 100 million tickets were sold for movies last year. Though rivals may be scant Netflix will also have to contend with Voddler, a Swedish film and TV service modeled after Spotify. The site is already well established in Spain and offers 80% of its content for free. On the plus side, tighter piracy law in Europe may make the campaign a little easier. Netflix spokespeople have declined to comment on the campaign.

Jeff Hughes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I'm a SF Bay Area-based writer/ninja that loves anything geek, tech, comic, social media or gaming-related.
10 best stop-motion animated movies of all time, ranked
Coraline crawls through a dark tunnel.

Stop-motion animation is one of the most creative and beloved subgenres -- and it only seems to get better with time. The greatest movies in this category showcase the hard work and artistry of the inventive minds behind these stories, which often take a long time to commit to film. Each frame is a painstakingly crafted work of art, all aimed at creating immersive worlds full of unforgettable narratives and characters.

From obscure modern classics like The Wolf House to genre-defining masterpieces like The Nightmare Before Christmas, the best stop-motion animated movies highlight the full potential of the medium to deliver complex stories alongside gorgeous and distinct visuals. The craftmanship on display in these films is a testament to the power of animation and those who boldly push the genre's boundaries to create enchanting realities.
10. James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Read more
The 50 best anime on Hulu right now
Gintama anime key art featuring Gintoki leading the supporting cast of the series.

Even when it's not the primary destination, Hulu is still easily among the best mainstream platforms to stream some of the best anime available. It's an especially great supplement for audiences already fans of the streamer's live-action originals, boasting impressive diversity in its anime offerings across film, TV, and various genres.

For customers who aren't subscribed, the Disney Bundle is more than worth consideration to back up Hulu's anime library. This package deal gives viewers countless hours of content through Disney+, ESPN+, and the base ad-supported Hulu plan. Fans will have access to all the Star Wars, Marvel Studios, National Geographic, and sports content they could hope for on top of Hulu's anime catalog.

Read more
Nuggets vs Mavericks live stream: Can you watch for free?
Nikola Jokic squares up a free throw on the court.

Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks take on Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets today. Playoff seeding implications aside, it's always a must-watch event whenever two of the greatest international players of all-time do battle.

This one is set to start in about one hour, at 3:30 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ABC in the United States. If you don't have cable or you're looking to finally cut the cable cord, there are a bunch of different ways you can watch a live stream of the game online.
The Best Way to Watch the Nuggets vs Mavericks Live Stream

Read more