Instep Today

Just Netflix and Chill

If you browse the internet you’ve definitely come across the Netflix phenomena. From popular memes such as Netflix and chill (more on this later) to shows that are exclusively made and aired on it, Netflix is dominating the web but leaving some users in the dark – until now.

By Haiya Bokhari
|
January 11, 2016

CyberTV

As the entertainment streaming website comes to Pakistan, here’s everything you need to know about it.

If you browse the internet you’ve definitely come across the Netflix phenomena. From popular memes such as Netflix and chill (more on this later) to shows that are exclusively made and aired on it, Netflix is dominating the web but leaving some users in the dark – until now. In a recent move that sent the internet twittering, the online streaming website announced that it was expanding its services to a whopping 130 countries, including Pakistan. But while most on the internet rejoice, some are left wondering what exactly the fuss is about. Here’s the lowdown on what is being touted as the biggest new Internet TV network.

Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007 (having already been a part of the DVD and rentals business since 1998) and has since expanded globally, initially becoming available in Canada, then Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan among 60 other countries. The website offers more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Users can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. Some of the most popular TV series in the last few years have been original Netflix productions including political drama House of Cards, the epic narcotics saga Narcos and the recent gripping thriller, Making a Murderer among a long list of others. What truly gives Netflix originals their edge is the fact that the entire season is released together. No long breaks between episodes, no hassle of forgetting what happened last time; it’s the quintessential embodiment of the 21st century internet user – full, immediate access.

The application is available on virtually any device that has an Internet connection, including personal computers, tablets, smartphones, Smart TVs and game consoles and automatically provides the best possible streaming quality based on available bandwidth. Many titles, including Netflix original series and films, are available in high-definition with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound and some in Ultra HD 4K. The membership fee is paltry in comparison to the cache of material the service makes accessible, ranging from about $10 per month (Rs. 1000) to about $14 (Rs.1400) depending on the number of consoles connected to a single account. As an introductory offer the first month on Netflix is free for any user, allowing them the opportunity to explore the website and choose membership later.

Users in Pakistan can access a limited list of media available on the streaming website (thanks to local authorities who categorize appropriate and inappropriate content) but can view the website’s complete database by using a VPN that allows them to connect to the American server. Netflix already has the entertainment world in a tizzy with its announcement of the remake of popular TV series X-Files and its trailer of original production, The Crown. Based on the life of Queen Elizabeth, the unreleased series apparently cost $156 million to create and appears to be a slick production that seems to be a cross between Downton Abbey and House of Cards.

Another point of information to note is that the popular meme, Netflix and Chill is probably one of the most misconstrued phrases of 2015. What started out as a euphemism for sex, the phrase was quickly adopted into the online jargon with most users, particularly those belonging to countries where the service wasn’t available, misunderstanding the sexual subtext. However, once something becomes a viral phenomenon on the internet its appropriation by different parts of the web cannot be stemmed. So the next time you post “Netflix and chill tonight” as your status on Facebook, just take a moment to think about its connotations!

caption

Netflix shelled out a whopping $156 million to make The Crown, the site’s most expensive show to date. It is scheduled to air in 2016.