Netflix takes its competitive on-demand service to Canada

Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) is heading north of the border with an on-demand movie offering that, at least the movie rental firm believes, will create a ripple among Canada's incumbent video service providers that could rock the boat for operators like Shaw (NYSE: SJR), Rogers (NYSE: RCI) and Videotron which have only recently gotten into the VoD space.

Netflix launched a website landing page that invites Canadians to sign up for its service and get upcoming news about the future expansion north. While only initially in English, a French-language version is also in the works. The service, according to Netflix, will let Canadians instantly watch content on their TVs through CE devices that can stream from Netflix, along with the more traditional PCs and Macs.

Netflix isn't alone in delivering its content via non-traditional methods--although it is clearly more competitive. A survey by Clicker, which calls itself TV guide for the Internet, said that 90 percent of broadcast networks content is being aired free online.

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