Netflix Launched In Cuba

(RTTNews) - Online-video subscription service Netflix Inc. (NFLX) is now available in Cuba.

Starting Monday, people in Cuba with Internet connections and access to international payment methods will be able to subscribe to Netflix and instantly watch a curated selection of popular movies and TV shows starting at $7.99 per month," the Los Gatos, California-based said.

Netflix will offer its own TV series "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black"; as well as great kids shows like DreamWorks Animation's "All Hail King Julien" and "The Adventures of Puss in Boots". The company will also offer a wide range of films, series and kids programming, as it does throughout Latin America.

"We are delighted to finally be able to offer Netflix to the people of Cuba, connecting them with stories they will love from all over the world," said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings. "Cuba has great filmmakers and a robust arts culture and one day we hope to be able to bring their work to our global audience of over 57 million members."

Netflix said it will offer a broad range of entertainment to Cuban consumers as Internet access improves and credit and debit cards become more widely available in that country.

The company began offering its service in Latin America in 2011 and now counts over 5 million members.

Netflix said last week that it will launch its service in Japan this fall as part of its larger plan to aggressively expand internationally. The rollout in Japan will follow the expansion of the service into Australia and New Zealand late in the first quarter of fiscal 2015. The company is reportedly looking to foray into about 200 countries by 2017 from the current about 50 countries.

Netflix shares are currently trading at $443.55, down 81 cents.