Even as the video streaming and DVD rental service Netflix still deals with the consumer backlash over the raise of its subscription rates, the company is rumored to be making more moves to expand to areas outside of the Americas. This week Variety reports via unnamed sources that the company could launch the video streaming portion of its business in the UK and Spain sometime in 2012.
According to the article Netflix has had meetings with "leading European film distributors" to offer the streaming service in those two countries. The deal is just for the video streaming division only; Netflix apparently has no plans to also offer its DVD mail order rental business overseas. It's likely that if Netflix is successful in bringing its video streaming business to the UK and Spain audiences it will expand to other countries in Europe. So far Netflix has yet to comment on the Variety article. Netflix previously expanded from its US base to Canada and earlier this month announced it would bring its streaming video service to Mexico and other Latin American countries, along with the Caribbean, later in 2011.
Meanwhile the fallout over Netflix's announcement that it would raise prices on video streaming-DVD mail order combo subscriptions by 60 percent continue to raise anger from its customers. CNet conducted a poll where 55 percent of its respondents said they would cancel their Netflix service on September 1 when the price hike go into effect for current subscribers. Netflix has claimed it anticipated the backlash when it made the price hike announcements.
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