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Grab some popcorn: Netflix is live in the UK and Ireland. You can now stream on-demand films and TV programmes to your computer, phone or tablet — even over 3G — with a month’s free trial available now.
Netflix is massive in the US, and its launch in Blighty will be a huge boost for online streaming of movies and TV. After the one-month free trial, it costs £6 in the UK and €7 in Ireland.
Netflix has deals with ITV, Channel 4 and CNET owner CBS for TV as well as classics from the BBC. Movies produced by Disney, Lionsgate, MGM, Miramax, Momentum, Paramount, Sony, 20th Century Fox are available. No Warner Brothers yet, so no Harry Potter or Batman, but it’s early days.
Never mind that, you can watch The Expendables and Paul Blart: Mall Cop! American TV shows include 24, Prison Break and the peerless Breaking Bad. UK shows include The Only Way is Essex, The Inbetweeners and Top Gear.
So far you can watch on your computer or on your PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii games console, and your iPhone or Android smart phone or tablet — even when you’re out and about, via the miracle of 3G.
As is de rigeur these days, Netflix plugs into Facebook so you can tell the world what you’re watching, should anyone care. More usefully, it’ll recommend stuff for you to watch based on Facebook feedback from your friends.
We’re looking forward to seeing what happens in the world of online streaming now Netflix has landed on these shores: rival service LoveFilm has already come out fighting with a streaming-only deal costing just £5, saving you a quid over Netflix. If the added competition improves the video quality and selection of streaming movies in the UK, we’ll be happy as Larry.
Are you going to net yourself some flicks from Netflix or are you sticking with LoveFilm, Sky, Virgin or the local video shop? Tell us how you watch movies and TV online in the comments, or on our Facebook page.