#NetflixEverywhere: India launch amongst 130 countries; subscription priced at Rs 500-800
MUMBAI: After months of speculation, over the top (OTT) player Netflix has finally made its big bang launch in India simultaneously with another 129 countries.
In a rapidly crowding Indian OTT space, Netflix will be offering subscribers three monthly subscription plan options.
The Basic plan is priced at Rs 500, the Standard at Rs 650, whereas the Premium plan is priced at Rs 800. The different subscription plans offer viewers the choice of viewing the content in different formats including HD as well Ultra HD and on multiple screens and devices. What's more, the first month's subscription is being offered for free to subscribers.
It may be recalled that the Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros' JV OTT venture HOOQ, which launched in India last year priced its monthly subscription at Rs 199. On the other hand, ErosNow is planning to adopt the quasi-premium two-tiered subscription service priced at Rs 50 and Rs 100 per month in India. Moreover, with most other players offering content for free on their platforms, Netflix's entry level subscription might come across as slightly steep, especially for the Indian audience, who is used to watching content for free.
Netflix will offer drama, action, comedy, documentaries and TV shows personalised for viewers. The OTT player will keep adding new movies and TV shows all the time and will also provide options for subtitles or dubbing.
The much anticipated big announcement was made by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Apart from India some of the other countries where the service was launched are: Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey and Indonesia amongst others. However, a major market that was missing was China.
With Netflix's entry into the Indian market, it's game on as existing OTT players like Hotstar, Sony Liv, ErosNow, DittoTV, Spuul and HOOQ gear up to face the competition.
How 2016 will shape up for the OTT players, only time will tell but one thing's for sure, the ones with the correct content, marketing and revenue generating strategies as well as with deep pockets will survive in the long haul.
