At CES 2016, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings launched streaming video service in India and much of the rest of the world, enabling access to thousands of TV shows and movies. With over 12 billion hours of content consumed on the service in the fourth quarter of 2015 alone by its 69 million subscribers, Netflix certainly occupies a lion's share of the streaming market. It is now looking for further growth by targeting emerging markets like India, which has over 300 million users connected to the internet.
Netflix is available across three price tiers: Basic, Standard and Premium. The ₹500/month ($7) Basic tier lets you watch content in 480p, with simultaneous streaming on one device. The ₹650/month ($9.70) Standard plan brings HD streaming, and lets you watch on two devices at the same time. The ₹800/month ($12) Premium tier broadcasts content in 4K, and allows you to watch content on up to four devices simultaneously. Do note that while Netflix gives you a free trial for 30 days, you'll need a credit card to register.
As for data usage, Netflix states that an SD stream would use up anywhere between 300MB and 700MB an hour, while an HD stream would utilize up to 3GB an hour. If you're looking to stream in 4K, you're looking at a bandwidth utilization of around 7GB for an hour's worth of content.
Registering for any tier of Netflix is as straightforward as it gets: Just enter your email address, select a password, pick a plan, and add your card details. The first month is free, but you will be charged a nominal amount to validate your credit or debit card, which will be reversed within a day.
Content has become the differentiator for Netflix in the U.S., with the studio producing several award-winning shows such as House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Jessica Jones. However, it looks like Netflix's catalog in India is limited, as flagship series House of Cards is not available in the country. The lack of availability is due to licensing rights, as the series is broadcast on Zee Cafe, a local channel. The likes of How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, Doctor Who, Sherlock, and many more are also missing. That said, there are several shows, like Netflix originals Narcos, Black Mirror, Arrow, Daredevil, Master of None, and others you can sink your teeth into.
Another strong point for Netflix is its availability on a wide range of devices, including Android phones and tablets, Chromecast, and Android TV.
Interested? Hit the link below to start subscribing, and download the Netflix app for Android by hitting the badge up top.
