Netflix is teaming up with Japan's SoftBank Group to launch its video streaming service in the country on Sept. 2.
This will be the first time Netflix launches in an Asian country, marking an important milestone for the company.
"SoftBank Corp, Japan's leading mobile provider, and Netflix Inc., the world's leading Internet TV network, today announced SoftBank, among Japanese telecommunications companies, will exclusively offer a fully integrated Netflix experience, including billing, when Netflix Japan launches on September 2," the company notes in a new press release.
Under this new partnership, SoftBank customers will be able to sign up for the Netflix video streaming service at SoftBank retail shops, through SoftBank's website and call centers, as well as at major electronics retailers. Customers will be able to sign up for the service without filling out any payment information, the press release further points out, as the Netflix fee will be added to their bill to simplify the whole payment process.
Netflix is also offering pricing details for its three-tier monthly plans in Japan. The basic plan, which includes single-stream standard definition costs 650 JPY (about $5.4), the standard plan with two-stream high definition goes up to 950 JPY, while the premium plan with four-stream 4K ultra-high definition family plan costs a heftier 1,450 JPY.
SoftBank, for its part, will also start pre-installing the Netflix app on its smartphones after October 2015. The two companies will also engage in creating original content for the Japanese market.
Netflix's new launch in Japan is an important step in the company's global expansion, as it plans to reach more markets across the world by the end of 2016. For now, Internet users in Japan will be able to get a Netflix subscription and watch various collections of popular HD TV shows and movies.
Japan is one of the largest markets for Netflix outside the U.S., as it has a large number of broadband homes - nearly 36 million. Netflix, meanwhile, has a vast user base of more than 65 million members in more than 50 countries, and this new partnership should significantly expand its reach and popularity, paving the way to an even greater global rollout.
