Netflix Australia is nearly here

As I write this, Netflix is just hours away from launch here in Australia.

Pricing information has been leaked and, if we believe what we are being told, plans begin at a VERY reasonable $8.99 a month for DVD quality (on 1 screen) up to $14.99 for 4K streams (across up to 4 devices).  These prices are especially good pricing given our currently appalling rate of exchange against the USD.  If this pricing is true, Netflix has massively undercut ALL of the streaming providers in Australia.

Things are heating up in preparation in other ways too.

Netflix apps are now available on the Australian iOS App store , Google Play, as well as on most games console app stores. Smart TV app stores have been updated with their own versions of the Netflix app.  Each app store is also offering the refreshed Netflix interface.

Netflix launches in Australia on Tuesday 24 March and there's a 30 day free trial for new customers in Australia and New Zealand.

Further leaks have included screenshots (see gallery below) of the initial Australian content offerings, with much of the online world relieved to see a comprehensive line up after initial sub-par expectations on account of content deals with existing Australian pay-TV outlets, like Foxtel.

I think it's time to say goodbye to Stan and Presto after, in my view, a very shaky start with poor experiences fiddling with unreliable Chromecast integration from both providers.  Why they haven't released native apps on the systems above yet, I don't know.  If they had, they may have gathered greater footing, but it looks too late now and Netflix Australia is sure to collect the unhappy end-of-free-trial Presto and Stan users in droves. 

For the hundreds of thousands who have been using Netflix in the USA from Australia with location-masking VPN and DNS tools, the Australian launch will provide some savings too - a healthy incentive.  VPN or DNS routing tools typically cost around USD5 per month. Combine that cost with the Netflix US monthly service fee, along with the losses on poor exchange rate, and at today's money, the Australian Netflix subscription cost is about half of what you would pay. 

So, it's just hours to go until the release of the world's most popular TV and Movie streaming platform.  Get yourself prepared and be sure to sign up for the world's best streaming service.

For me, highlights of the initial offerings are House of Cards, and for the docos, check out Chasing Ice and Grizzly Man.

Leaked screenshots of Netflix Australia's launch content 

Inspiration for the iOS7 colour palette? You decide.

Maybe? 

Don't worry, be happy.

Hmm...don't worry so much.  Classic Ze. 

Grizzly Man - another interesting watch

Grizzly Man

I've seen a few documentary films by Werner Herzog (his series on death row inmates was very good) and so flipping through the catalogue of things to stream last night my interest was piqued by a documentary of his about grizzly bears and a guy who lived and found solace with them for 13 summers in Katmai National Park in Alaska.

Grizzly Man outlines the story of Tim Treadwell - a failed actor who decided to dedicate his life to preserving/defending and documenting the life of grizzly bears. Tim founded Grizzly People (a preservation organisation for grizzly bears) and spent an incredible amount of time alone living with the bears and foxes, getting dangerously close to them, playing with them and almost trying to become like one of them in a child-like way. Treadwell travelled the world (charging no fees) telling the stories of the grizzlies to school children and at conferences. Herzog's film replays parts of Treadwell's self-recorded footage of his journey with the bears as well as exploring Tim's declining mental stability.  Treadwell is shown in contrasting bouts of childlike sobbing for his animals and fits of rage against the National Parks Service and those coming to hunt his 'friends', the animals. 

Tim was joined by his girlfriend (Amie Huguenard) for his 13th and last(!) visit.  Shortly before they were due to be collected by seaplane at the end of the 2003 summer, they were both mauled, killed and eaten by a rogue bear.  A camera was rolling during their attack and while there is no footage (the lens cap was on the camera the whole time) the audio from the attack was recorded for six minutes before the tape ran out.  You can't help but feel sorry for what happened to Tim and his girlfriend, but also for how naive he seems throughout his encounters.

The scenery is amazing and Herzog's re-telling of this interesting man's story is excellent.  The documentary deservedly received critical acclaim and has a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Grizzly, huh?  I couldn't look away. Well worth a watch. 

Tim Treadwell.  The similarities to Steve Irwin are uncanny in many ways.