With online streaming giant Netflix — arguably the world’s best and largest — making its entry into India, watching popular TV shows and films have got a lot easier. People in the city, especially youngsters, are upbeat about the idea of watching content on demand. Anwesha Ambaly of The Telegraph decodes Netflix for you.

KNOW IT ALL

It all begins with registration. Once you have signed up on Netflix, you can watch content from a range of devices such as a computer, TV, smartphone or tablet, provided they are connected to the Internet. One can sign up for NetFlix via its website or the NetFlix apps on Apple, Android and other platforms. However, you need a credit card to do it. Debit cards do not work here.

The minimum speed required for the service is 0.5 megabits per second. The speed and bandwidth of the Internet connection would impact the viewing experience. One can also stream videos in HD quality but that uses more bandwidth in comparison to normal viewing.

POCKET PINCH

The biggest plus for NetFlix in India is its affordability. The streaming service is currently available in three packages: Basic for Rs 500 a month, Standard for Rs 650 a month and Premium for Rs 800 a month. While Basic allows streaming in Standard Definition (SD) resolutions, on any one device at a time, Standard offers High Definition (HD) streaming, and simultaneous viewing on two screens. Premium is the top-of-the-line plan that offers Ultra HD (4K) content too, whenever available, and lets you stream simultaneously on four devices. 
   Also, you get a free one-month trial on all plans before you are billed.

WHAT YOU CAN WATCH

Netflix provides syndicated content as well as original shows.

A number of Hindi films — right from classics to latest releases — are streaming on Netflix. The recent movies that are available are Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Main Aur Charles, Lootera and Piku. That apart, a few television series are also available such as C.I.D, Crime Patrol and Adaalat.

NetFlix’s original content boasts some top shows — from Kevin Spacey’s award-winning House of Cards (which is not available in India) to the new smash-hit series Marvel’s Jessica Jones to Sense8, that stars Indian actress Tina Desai.

WHY NETFLIX AND WHY NOT

Although a number of online platforms offer similar services, Netflix is popular for offering exclusive content. This has generated a lot of excitement in the youth on social media platforms. In major cities of Odisha, students, corporate employees and artists are excited about this new streaming platform.

“Streaming channels such as YouTube provide a lot of content for free but you don’t get everything there. For a number of films, you only get to see a few scenes. Not all the episodes of my favourite season of Friends are available on YouTube,” said Partha Sarathi Samal, a 26-year-old tour operator.

“I have been hearing a lot of good things about Netflix from my cousins who stay abroad and I am quite excited about using it myself now. The best thing is it offers to watch videos simultaneously on four screens,” said Jyoti Bothra, a 24-year-old singer.

But, the fact that the popular series House of Cards will not be available has upset fans here. “When Netflix arrived, the first thing that came to my mind was the series. But I could not find it and later came to know that it does not have the global rights to make it available here,” said Subrat Dash, a local photographer.