Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) Making the Move Down Under, Latest Deal Spills the Beans

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has worked out a deal for the Australian rights to Gotham in the surest sign yet that the company’s expansion will eventually spread Down Under. The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported on the news today.

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While Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) had previously secured the streaming rights to the Batman prequel television series from Warner Bros. in a large international deal announced two weeks ago, Australia was not included in that deal.

Like that deal, in which the first season will be released to Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) some time after the first season has finished airing on Fox, Gotham will be available for Australians on Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) one year after the local TV rights holder, Nine Entertainment, has premiered it there, which will happen later this year.

The deal is a blow to Nine Entertainment themselves, who are in the process of launching their own video streaming service called StreamCo in a joint venture with Fairfax Media (which owns the SMH). Another network, the Seven Network, also has plans to get into video streaming.

Incredibly, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) already controls close to half of Australia’s video streaming market, despite such formalities as actually launching in the country. By utilizing virtual private networks to avoid the geo-blocks Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) puts in place to region block its content, there are reportedly 200,000 Australians that are already using the service. That has riled up one of Australia’s existing streaming services, Quickflix, whose chief executive has been a vocal critic of Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) not doing more to prevent unauthorized use of their service.

Gotham focuses the story on young detective James Gordon, and will features characters familiar to fans of the Batman comics and movies, though depicted from an earlier age. The highly anticipated series, considered the hottest of the season, makes it debut on Fox next Monday and stars Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has had a rough past few days, falling 6% since last Thursday. They are still up a healthy 23.66% for the year though, trading at $455.03 in morning trading.

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