9 Oct – Netflix has added another Southeast Asian country to its list of global rollout for 2016. By next year, it is expected to launch its services in Cambodia, too. Netflix spokesman Jonathan Friedland stated that the addition is done as part of the company's 200-country campaign, which aims to offer its services globally by the end of 2016, according to The Phnom Penh Post. The US-based international provider of on-demand Internet streaming media started its expansion into Asia by first dipping its toe in the Japanese market last month. In the same month, Netflix revealed that it will soon expand into Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea as well as Singapore. Currently, only two Southeast Asian countries are targeted for its 2016 global rollout, it is not yet known whether more will be added. However, Netflix's expansion into Cambodia won't be such a breeze as there are two other similar services eyeing the market – Malaysia-based iflix and Singapore-based HOOQ.
iflix, which is already launched in Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, also has Cambodia, apart from, Indonesia, on its list. The company, touted as Asia's on-demand streaming media service, aims to penetrate the Cambodian market by mid-2016. Iflix offers Hollywood, Asian and local media content provided by the likes of MGM, Warner Bros and Starz, and currently has over 450,000 accounts. Meanwhile, HOOQ, which is formed by Singapore's Singtel in partnership with Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Entertainment, is also another Subscription VOD (SVOD) service that is now available in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and India, with more markets to come. However, Netflix is not fazed by the competition. Friedland said, "We have competition everywhere. It helps educate the market about the benefits of streaming." Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings along with Marc Randolph, Netflix is currently available in over 50 countries, with 65 million users subscribed to its services.