Trending Today: #NetflixEverywhere
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced this week that the streaming platform is expanding its services to 130 more ｃountries. Before the expansion, the streaming service operated in 60 ｃountries worldwide.
A map of the ｃountries that now have #Netflix! https://t.co/15ZvFCML8k #NetflixCES #netflixeverywhere #UAE pic.twitter.com/hU9YdcZ57D
— Absolute Geeks (@AbsoluteGeeks) January 6, 2016
As a result of the announcement, the hashtag #NetflixEverywhere trended on Twitter worldwide, as well as in many of Netflix’s new ｃountries and markets.
Many joked that the time they used to spend working will now be spent watching television shows and movies on Netflix.
A Twitter user in the Philippines tweeted: “Goodbye Productivity and Social Life.”
Goodbye productivity and social life. #NetflixEverywhere #NetflixPhilippines
— Dennis Romero (@DencioRomero) January 7, 2016
And a Twitter user in the United Arab Emirates wrote, “in the #UAE the roads are [going to] be a lot quieter this weekend #onemonthfree.”
We don't need a VPN anymore! #NetflixEverywhere yep its now here in the #UAE the roads are gonna be a lot quieter this weekend #onemonthfree
— Daisy Clarkson (@DJDaisyClarkson) January 7, 2016
Netflix is offering one free month of service for new users around the world. A Twitter user in India tweeted two photos that compared the number of Indians using Netflix during the free month versus when the free trial ends.
Pic 1:Indians using Netflix free trial Pic 2:Indians using Netflix when trial period gets over #NetflixIndia pic.twitter.com/lusuKt2ORl
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) January 7, 2016
New Netflix markets include India, Vietnam, Turkey, Nigeria, South Korea, Russia, Azerbaijan, Singapore and many more.
The company also announced this week it has added Arabic, Korean and Chinese to its language choices.
Netflix is now in almost every ｃountry on earth. But it remains unavailable in the most populous ｃountry, China.
VOCABULARY:
1. productivity - n. the rate at which work is completed
2. trial - n. a test of the quality, value, or usefulness of something
DISCUSSION:
1. What are the pros and cons of streaming services like Netflix?
2. What is the implication of Netflix' expansion of their services.
3. What are the things that people have missed out on since the era of social networks and digitized entertainment?
