US online entertainment powerhouse Netflix ended months of speculation Wednesday in announcing it is moving into the Australian and New Zealand market from March.
Netflix has pioneered online streaming of original content, including TV shows and films, challenging traditional network and cable broadcasters.
"Internet-connected users in Australia and New Zealand will be able to subscribe to Netflix and instantly watch a curated selection of popular movies and TV shows," the company said in a statement.
Netflix has more than 50 million subscribers around the world and Australia and New Zealand will bring the number of countries and territories with the service to more than 50.
Full details on the pricing and content for Australian and New Zealand subscribers have not yet been announced, but Netflix said at launch offerings would include "Marco Polo", "BoJack Horseman and, among its children's titles, "All Hail King Julien".
"Australia and New Zealand have been a long time coming for us," Netflix's Cliff Edwards told The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Both countries are great locations for us, we know that people have been very enthusiastic ... we hope that enthusiasm will grow when we launch in March."
Australian residents are currently blocked from accessing the US website but reports suggest many side-step this to access original content such as "House of Cards" and "Orange Is the New Black".