“Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network,” said Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings in his keynote address at CES 2016. “With this launch, consumers around the world, from Singapore to St. Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo, will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simultaneously — no more waiting.”
Since Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007 in America, the service has expanded globally, first to Canada, then throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. With the latest expansion, Netflix is now available in 190 countries.
Netflix added Arabic, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese to the 17 languages it already supports.
China is the biggest country not included in that list, but Netflix continues to explore options for providing the streaming service. It also will not be available in Crimea, North Korea and Syria due to U.S. government restrictions on American companies.
In 2016, Netflix plans to release 31 original series (new and returning), 24 original feature films and documentaries, and 30 original kids series, among other new programs. All new releases will be available to subscribers in all countries at the same time.
“With the help of the Internet, we are putting power in consumers’ hands to watch whenever, wherever and on whatever device,” said Hastings.
