Netflix, SoftBank Partner in Japan
August 24 2015 - 04:30AM
Dow Jones News
TOKYO—Netflix Inc. has agreed to a tie-up with Japan's SoftBank
Group Corp. for the Japan launch of its video-streaming service on
Sept. 2.
Under the agreement announced Monday, SoftBank customers will be
able to sign up for Netflix at SoftBank's retail shops, major
electronics retailers and through SoftBank's website and call
centers.
Netflix also announced its three-tier monthly pricing plans for
Japan, which ranges from Y650 ($5.4) to Y1,450 a month. The two
will also be involved in creating original content, SoftBank
said.
SoftBank, which operates one of Japan's largest mobile carriers,
said the tie-up allows users of SoftBank's mobile or broadband
services to pay Netflix subscription fees through SoftBank's
payment system without the need to fill out additional payment
information.
"It would simplify the payment process," a SoftBank spokesman
said.
Netflix's Japan debut is a part of its global rollout, which it
plans to complete by the end of 2016. Starting next week
Internet-connected users in Japan will be able to subscribe to
Netflix and watch selections of popular movies and TV shows in
high-definition.
Japan poses an attractive opportunity for Netflix. It has nearly
36 million broadband homes, making it one of the largest markets
outside of the U.S. that Netflix has entered.
Netflix has over 65 million members in over 50 countries. In
Japan, it will compete with Hulu, which sold its Japan business to
domestic television network Nippon Television Network Corp. in
February last year. As of March, the number of Hulu users in Japan
surpassed 1 million, with monthly subscription fees at Y933.
In June, Japan's Fuji Television Network Inc. announced it will
be producing original content for Netflix's debut in the
country.
Write to Alexander Martin at alexander.martin@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 24, 2015 04:15 ET (08:15 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2015 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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