The holy grail of streaming movies and shows has finally come to Bangladesh. Netflix released a statement yesterday letting everyone know they are now allowing access to their service to over 130 countries around the world. This is music to many ears within our borders, especially for those who would love to have international content on demand.
If you haven’t already caught the drift, Netflix is a streaming video service that allows viewers to watch movies, shows and other special programming. Netflix is also producing original content, collaborating with major studios through popular stories and characters. More and more big screen actors and producers are now investing their time and money to get on the Netflix-original train. There seems to be no stopping for the most successful streaming service around.
What does this exactly mean for viewers here in Bangladesh? Well, there are pros and cons to this whole new affair.
The plus side
You get almost every new film or show to watch on demand. Alongside the new, there are countless older content you can stream through Netflix. Take Daredevil, for example. The new season of the series premieres in late March of this year. The most of us would have to wait at least a day or two to download the torrent of the latest episodes. Illegally, of course. Then again, no one would catch us here in Bangladesh. But let’s not take the risk anyway. With Netflix, you’ll be able to stream it at the same time the United States is airing the show on HBO.
Whether you want to binge watch older episodes or catch the first episode from the moment it airs in the States, there will be no waiting in line or waiting for a show to download on your computers. Which leads us to the other positive of having Netflix. You can view shows and movies through your web browsers like Chrome or Safari by heading over to the Netflix website and signing in. There are also apps from your smartphones and smart TVs that will allow you to watch Netflix. Even gaming consoles, like the PS4 or the Xbox One, gives you the opportunity to play with the streaming service by downloading the Netflix app.
The not-so-great side
It is not free. Well, at least for the first month it is. After that, you’ll have to be like every other user and pay up. You’re probably sitting there asking, “Then, what’s the point, when I can just continue downloading torrents?” Well, we don’t need to remind you, as convenient as torrents may be, it remains an illegal act. Piracy 101, folks. But we’re not going to judge, that is the nature of the beast we know as the Internet.
Second, you will not find everything you’re looking for on Netflix. There are certain films and shows the streaming service does not have a license for as of yet. But in most cases, you’ll find your desired content. With so many shows in production, nowadays, you won’t have to look far for something new and exciting.
Finally, for a streaming service to be smooth, you’ll need a pretty fast internet. You could use your mobile devices, but your 3G can only take you so far. It’ll eat away at your browsing data in a flash, if you’re viewing anything in HD. To get a solid viewing experience, it is suggested you are connected to at least a 2MB speed connection. Even then, we’ve seen a few stutters here and there but nothing too distracting you from a pleasurable experience. For those of you rocking a 11MB connection (like yours truly) through Wi-Fi or broadband, well, that’s just heaven.
How it all works
Signing up for a Netflix account is super easy. Head on over to their main website and register for free. Once you’ve typed in the necessary information, you’ll have to choose which package you want to deal with. There’s the Basic for $7.99, Standard for $9.99, and Premium for $11.99.
The Basic monthly subscription only allows you to watch Netflix on one screen at a time. This means wherever you are signed in through is the only place you can view it until you log out. Feel free to lend your username and password, but beware with this package, it’s not something you should be sharing. Basic also means you won’t be able to view HD content. It is simply standard video.
Standard is possibly the more popular of the three options. Here, you’ll be able to use the Netflix account on two screen at once. You can be watching on one device, while someone with the same account can view it somewhere else. Standard also means HD content. Premium users are able to use their accounts on four screens at once, with the addition of Ultra HD. Ultra HD are for those with 4K displays and televisions.
And yes, all of what you want does require you to type in some credit card information. After the first free month, you’ll have to pay the monthly fee to use Netflix. But don’t worry, if you’re not satisfied, you can always cancel the subscription at any time. You should also call the bank that issued your credit card regarding international purchases so that you don’t stumble into an online roadblock.
Netflix, it’s a beautiful thing. Give it a try because we’re already hooked.