Netflix begins its Latin America and Caribbean rollout
Netflix launched streaming in Brazil and began a one-week rollout that would extend the service to 43 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Historical context
Netflix's streaming business had established itself in the United States and Canada, while broadband connections, connected televisions, consoles and other internet-capable devices were spreading internationally. Expansion outside North America required regional content licensing, localization and payment infrastructure.
What happened
Netflix opened its service in Brazil on September 5 and scheduled launches across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, the Andean region, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean through September 12. The expansion used localized pricing and Portuguese-, Spanish- and English-language interfaces.
Consequences
The rollout was an early major step in Netflix's transformation from a North American service into a global streaming platform. Latin America subsequently became an important market for both Netflix subscriptions and locally commissioned programming.