Netflix to launch in Australia, New Zealand

U.S. video streaming service Netflix yesterday said it will launch in Australia and New Zealand this month, with access to season three of hit political drama "House of Cards" a key drawcard. The move comes amid an increasing shift to Internet-based on-demand television globally, with the California-based company leading the field. The video-on-demand service will be available on all major Australian broadband operators and accessible on a myriad of devices, including smart TVs, gaming console Xbox, smartphones and tablets. Netflix in January announced it has boosted membership to more than 57 million users at the end of 2014, a gain of 13 million. Profits jumped to $266 million for the year on $5.5 billion in revenue.