Quickflix launches unlimited movie and TV streaming service

28 March 2012
Quickflix launches New Zealand’s first unlimited movie and TV streaming service

• Unlimited movies and television series at an introductory price of $9.99 per month

• Content provided by major feature film and television studios

• View on internetconnected devices from leading consumer electronics brands

• Zerorated broadband access via partnership with Orcon

• Announcements awaited from other ISPs, starting with Slingshot

Other countries have been enjoying the advantages of unlimited streamed movies and TV programmes for years. Now, at long last, it’s New Zealand’s turn.

From tomorrow, ASXlisted company Quickflix Limited (QFX) will launch its streaming service in New Zealand – and it will be available to anyone with a broadband connection.

The Quickflix subscription streaming service offering unlimited viewing will retail at NZ$16.99 per month, however for a limited period it will be available at an introductory price of just $9.99 a month. Subscribers will be able to watch unlimited movies and television series digitally streamed to PCs, Apple Macs and Sony’s range of internetconnected Bravia TVs, Bluray players and PlayStation 3.

Over the coming months, both Panasonic and Samsung will stream Quickflix through their range of connected TVs, as well as Samsung’s Galaxy Tablets and smartphones. The service will also be made available to users of Apple iPhones and iPads in May. Quickflix will continue to roll out its service on further connected devices throughout the course of the year.

“The advent of smart devices in the home is transforming the choices available to consumers all over the world,” says Quickflix Chief Executive Officer Chris Taylor.

“The
Quickflix streaming ‘smart channel’ will change the way Kiwis experience movies and entertainment services. No boxes, no contracts, just great content on demand, at an affordable price.”

Major Hollywood studios Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, NBC Universal and MGM, along with Lakeshore Entertainment and Pinnacle Films, will provide blockbusters from their tremendous catalogue of feature films and BBC will deliver the best of British drama and comedy television on demand. Quickflix expects to announce more participating film and television studios over the coming weeks.

To complement the unlimited subscription service, selected devices will offer the latest release films on a payperview basis for as little as NZ$6.99.

Also streaming free on Quickflix will be exclusive Alist interviews, red carpet coverage and film reviews from Hollywood and around the world hosted by celebrity TV presenter, DJ Ruby Rose. This content will be available free, whether New Zealanders are subscribed to Quickflix or not.

Taylor expects Quickflix’s launch to provide a real alternative to the existing entertainment options in New Zealand.

“New Zealanders’ entertainment choices have been far too limited for far too long. In our view there is not enough competition in New Zealand and consumers deserve more choice of content, on demand without the exorbitant price tag. Quickflix will do its part to drive a new era in ondemand entertainment in New Zealand.”

Quickflix sees exceptional opportunities in the New Zealand market, which will only be further enhanced with the future rollout of the Ultra Fast Broadband.

For the time being, however, Quickflix is seeking to work with broadband providers to make its streaming service unmetered and not count towards customers' broadband data usage. “Compared with other countries in the developed world broadband data caps in New Zealand are restrictively low but we see this changing,” declares Taylor.

“We’re delighted to announce that broadband provider Orcon will be zerorating our service from 1 May. We expect other ISPs to follow suit.”

Orcon CEO Scott Bartlett said “New Zealanders have been hanging out for a service like this. It’s an old adage, but content is king, and to be able to legally stream unlimited movies under an affordable monthly subscription service is a massive leap forward for Kiwis. We are really proud that we can zerorate Quickflix for Orcon customers who will also be able to take advantage of their special introductory offer and enjoy this great service first hand.”

Other ISPs are likely to go public with their zerorating plans soon, starting with Slingshot, who are expected to make an announcement about zerorating the Quickflix service tomorrow. Quickflix (ASX:QFX) recently announced that Time Warnerowned HBO has taken a 15.7% stake in the company.

ENDS

© Scoop Media