UPDATE: March 23, 9:23 a.m.: Netflix has announced it will launch with original series Orange is the New Black. Its pricing model will be A$8.99 for one device standard definition streaming, A$11.99 for two device, HD streaming and A$14.99 for 4K four device streaming.
Netflix has finally announced its Australian and New Zealand launch date. The U.S. on-demand movie and television streaming service arrives on March 24.
In good news for customers of the Internet service provider, iiNet, the service will be available in an un-metered agreement -- meaning watching Netflix movies and TV shows will not suck up your data limit. Optus followed this lead, confirming to Mashable they would offer unmetered access on their broadband service.
"Optus broadband consumer customers will also be able to access as much Netflix content as they want, without metering," a spokesperson said. "Netflix Australian content won’t count towards a customer’s data cap."
Mashable has contacted Telstra to find out if Australia's largest ISP Bigpond will follow suit.
You'll be able to watch Netflix programming, including the hit original drama House of Cards, on your Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips smart TVs along with Fetch TV's set-top box. You can also access it through a Sony Playstation 3 and 4, XBOX 360 and One, Nintendo Wii U, Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Apple and Android devices.
There will be three plan types available to cater to different users, which include a single-stream standard definition plan, a two-stream HD plan and a four-stream 4K ultra-HD family plan. The cost of these plans to local consumers will be available when the service launches, but it is thought the price point will be similar to local competitors that charge around the $10 a month mark for a standard service.
Coinciding with the launch date announcement is the local Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages so Australians and Kiwis can keep up with the latest news from the streaming giant.
Hot off the press, check out our upcoming winter specials. There's something for everyone on #NetflixDownUnder pic.twitter.com/Iz3lIyYKx4— Netflix ANZ (@NetflixANZ) March 2, 2015
Some of the shows to hit screens Down Under and in New Zealand include the original series House of Cards, Bloodline and Marco Polo, the thriller Sense8 along with Marvel's Daredevil.
A notable exception is the critically-acclaimed original series Orange is the New Black, which subscription service Foxtel currently holds the rights to.
In Australia, Netflix will take on competitors Foxtel, Quickflix and Stan in the battle for viewers in the emerging space. It already has a head start, with a large number of Australians accessing the U.S. service via a VPN workaround to avoid geo-blocking. It is unclear what Netflix plans to do in relation to these users or if the local version will reduce these numbers, but the company recently told Mashable it has no plans to block ISPs.