Binge watching comes to Cuba
(CNS Business): Following a softening of relations between the US and Cuba at the end of last year, California-based Netflix, the leading Internet film and TV subscription service, has begun offering its low-cost streaming service to people in Cuba with Internet connections and access to international payment methods, the company announced today.
Just 5% of Cubans have unfiltered access to the Internet, according to watchdog group Freedom House, but Netflix is optimistic that more people in the communist island nation will be able to buy its service “as Internet access improves and credit and debit cards become more widely available.”
The only sanctioned TV in the country is Cuban state television, which does air some limited American programming.
Although it’s not clear if some shows and movies currently available in other Latin American and Caribbean countries will not be accessible to customers in Cuba, Netflix stated that its Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award-winning series House of Cards and Orange is the New Black; and its recently released adventure series Marco Polo will be among the offerings.
Kids shows like DreamWorks Animation’s All Hail King Julien and The Adventures of Puss in Boots and Academy Award-nominated original documentaries including Virunga and The Square will be available and Netflix says it will also offer a wide range of films, series and kids programming, as it does throughout Latin America.
“We are delighted to finally be able to offer Netflix to the people of Cuba, connecting them with stories they will love from all over the world,” said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings. “Cuba has great filmmakers and a robust arts culture and one day we hope to be able to bring their work to our global audience of over 57 million members.”
Netflix began offering its service in Latin America in 2011 and now counts over 5 million members.
Category: Entertainment, Local Business
