UK: Netflix launches UK film and TV streaming service

Just saw this article on the BBC News website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16467432

They're finally launching Netflix in the UK - yay!

The UK Netflix site is here: https://signup.netflix.com/?mqso=80031973&locale=en-GB&mkwid=scxFYTeEH&pcrid=9887733005

It looks like it's £5.99 per month for unlimited film and TV episode streaming, but you can get a free 1-month trial through your Facebook account.

I'm not sure how good their TV/film selection is at the moment (compared to in the US), but at least it's something that you can sign up for in the UK now .

How exciting. I will be checking this out!

I didn't have Netflix in the US so not sure what they offered there, but browsing the movies they have on offer here, it seems most of them are older movies.  Can't say they really excite me.

im beyond elated with this. I had netflix in the states and loved it, although i did most of my viewing through streaming anyway.

i did sign up for lovefilm but hated it. the mailing times were quite bad, and selection was not the best at all. They do offer nice selection of streaming, but sometimes you have to pay a small fee to stream a newer release.

I have promptly signed up for netflix and it seems to lean more towards US releases of film and TV shows. While not all of my favorites are there yet, they do have a more vast and recent selection of movies and tv shows for instant streaming. They do have channel 4 specific content for streaming as well. My one log in is good for laptop, Playstation 3 and tablet. AWESOME.

well pleased with this

I used to have Netflix in the U.S., and used it heavily.  It was a great service, especially their streaming offerings. 

When I moved, I looked into Lovefilm, and just hated it!  Their streaming options (which is what I'm most interested in) seemed pretty limited, and it seemed that anything worth watching cost extra.  Not only that, but their UI was horrible!  Rather than linking to an entire season/series, they listed every single episode separately.  So bad!  So, I never signed up.

From what I've heard from people at home who still have Netflix, their older/niche streaming options are being cut down.  What I've read online suggests that this is because they're trying to make deals with rights holders to get more new releases, faster.  But the rights holders still haven't woken up to the fact that their market is changing, and are playing hardball with all the streaming services.  And when it comes to non-U.S. services, the situation gets even worse, which is part of the problem Lovefilm has always had.

So, I'll definitely check out Netflix UK, but I'm worried they'll be hampered in the same ways Lovefilm has been.  Although, even with the same offerings, as long as Netflix UK uses the same UI, it'll be better than Lovefilm.

I watch Netflix in the US but am curious, do you guys need a TV license to watch Netflix in the UK?

I watch Netflix in the US but am curious, do you guys need a TV license to watch Netflix in the UK?

My guess is that most people have a TV licence, but really all you need is a tv that accesses the internet, or a cable to hook your tv up to your computer.

I have my tv set up with a net-top and wifi keyboard... so can view bbc iplayer, lovefilm/netflix, youtube, music videos, pictures, blu-ray, etc. all through the net-top.  Would work even if the tv wasn't hooked up to cable.

In terms of internet TV viewing, a TV licence is only required to watch live streaming of TV, not catch-up TV or online movies/shows via Netflix.

It doesn't matter if you hook up the computer to the TV or not... even if you don't own a TV, you still need a TV licence to watch live TV on your computer.

So, for example if you were streaming BBC One through your computer and you were watching the shows as they were actually being aired on TV, then you would need a TV licence, but if you only watched shows on BBC iplayer after they had been aired on TV, you would not need a licence.

From the BBC website (http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/playing_tv_progs/tvlicence):

Catch-up

You do not need a television licence to catch-up on television programmes in BBC iPlayer, only when you watch or record at the same time (or virtually the same time) as it is being broadcast or otherwise distributed to the public. In BBC iPlayer, this is through the Watch Live simulcast option.

Anyone in the UK watching or recording television as it's being broadcast or simulcast on any device - including mobiles, laptops and PCs - must, by law, be covered by a valid TV licence.