Netflix eyes Asian launch following Spanish deal

Netflix is set to continue its aggressive international expansion with plans to launch across Asia.

This comes after reports emerged that it would launch in Spain in January 2012 and follows a significant deal with Lionsgate in the UK.

Pedro Perez, president of local producers association FAPAE, told Screen Daily that the movie streaming site has contacted Spanish producers ahead of an early 2012 launch.

US-based Netflix made its first international expansion in Canada, and has announced plans to launch in 43 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean later this year.

Spain and the UK would mark its first moves in Europe.

Netflix will also face competition from existing streaming services, including Sweden-based Voddler, which offers over 3,500 on-demand titles, and Lovefilm, which recently struck a deal with Entertainment One in the UK.

Netflix has 26 million customers in the US and is aiming for 30 million by the end of the year. It received criticism recently for hiking prices for its top package by as much as 60% for US subscribers.