Spark New Zealand partners with Netflix, taking next step in the evolution of
its media strategy
Spark New Zealand and Netflix, the global internet television network, are
announcing an exclusive partnership that gives Spark broadband customers a
subscription to Netflix''s Standard plan for one year when they sign up to a
24 month Unlimited Data Spark broadband plan. This is the first time that
Netflix has been bundled with broadband in New Zealand.
Long gone are the days when New Zealanders had no choice in the way they
watched TV and video. Many households now use a combination of entertainment
services such as Netflix and Lightbox to access all the hit shows and movies
that they love. Reflecting this, Netflix will sit alongside Spark''s current
Lightbox offer.
Jason Paris, CEO for Spark Home Mobile and Business, says, "In combination,
these highly desirable content streaming services mean you get an incredible
entertainment package bundled with your Spark broadband. By bringing Netflix
and Lightbox under the same roof, we make it easier for our customers to
access the content they want to watch, when they want to watch it.
"We know that our customers love Netflix and Lightbox. We''ve just announced
that Lightbox is now approaching 250k subscribers and we already see the
popularity of Netflix in New Zealand - around a third of the data over our
broadband network on an average evening is customers streaming Netflix and
Lightbox.
"This announcement is a step on the road towards Spark becoming a go-to
destination for media and entertainment. Our ambition is for Spark to become
a preferred content provider for New Zealanders, delivering a range of
potential content (from TV and video, to sport and so on) and a simple way to
access the content that most interests them."
Simon Moutter, CEO, Spark, adds, "Spark customers who take up a 24 month
unlimited broadband plan now have access to a huge content library, with
thousands of hours of TV and movies.
"This move is consistent with the Spark media strategy outlined in previous
investor updates, starting a shift to a more open, platform-centric approach,
to be able to offer customers an even bigger range of content choices.
"It is also consistent with our shift towards becoming a digital services
provider, rather than just a traditional telco. We''re growing our platform
approach with a range of providers, providing a mix of digital tools to
support our customers'' lives."
- ENDS -
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End CA:00297423 For:SPK Type:GENERAL Time:2017-02-27 08:35:00