Netflix Now Available in the UK and Ireland

Netflix has announced that it is now available in the UK and Ireland, as promised last year. Users in the two countries will be able to start streaming TV shows and movies from the site or on a large number of devices.

The company announced a few months ago that it would expand to its first European markets in early 2011. The streaming component of Netflix debuted in the US several years back and expanded into Canada in 2010.

Netflix streaming launched in 45 countries in Latin America and is now available in all of the countries of both South America and North America.

But the service is encountering a much stronger competition in the UK, from Amazon's LoveFilm in particular, but also from other digital video services, like the BBC iPlayer, or even traditional video providers.

This is reflected in the price Netflix is asking in the UK and Ireland, just  £5.99 or €6.99, $9.24 or $8.88 respectively. That's compared to $7.99, £5.17 or €6.28 in the US for the streaming-only option.

To help with the launch, there is a one-month free trial available for new users in the two countries.

"Today we're bringing Netflix to the UK and Ireland," Neil Hunt, chief product officer at Netflix, announced.

"Netflix is available now, and anyone can get a one month free trial: click-to-watch TV programmes and films streamed instantly over the Internet to your smart TV, game console, computer, tablet, or mobile device," he said.

To make the service appealing in the two countries, Netflix has signed several new licensing deals. It has already announced deals with the likes of Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax and BBC. Netflix is also expected to be working on deals with Sony, Disney, Paramount, Channel 4 and ITV, the Guardian says.