Everything you need to know about Australia's most popular streaming service.

Because Netflix is now a global force, it is committed to creating high-quality original shows and movies that can't be seen anywhere else, with a strategy built around binge watching.

With partnerships with companies like Disney and Dreamworks to create exclusive shows for its audience, Netflix is aiming to create engaging programs for audiences of all ages.The recent addition of offline viewing is also taking the platform to the next level.

Netflix subscribers can now download certain shows and movies to their iOS and Android devices to watch offline, which truly makes the concept of watching Netflix anywhere a reality.

How much does Netflix Australia cost?

For a limited time, Australians are invited to try Netflix for one month for free. If they choose to continue, service plans start at $8.99 for a single standard definition stream. There are no contracts with Netflix so you can cancel the service at any time, but until then your credit card that was used to sign up will automatically be charged each month.

If you have obtained a coupon code for Netflix services, you can get your discount when you sign up. Simply wait to be prompted during check-out and enter the code where indicated. You will see the discount applied on your first billing statement.

There are three plans offered by Netflix that you can choose from: Basic, Standard and Premium. The one you pick will depend on the types of features you want with your Netflix subscription.

In order to watch a video streamed from Netflix on your PC or laptop you will have to have the Microsoft Silverlight plug-in installed. This is a free download that enables Netflix to run properly on your computer.

Why is Netflix in Australia and why is it a big deal?

Back in 1997, Netflix changed the way movies were rented in the United States. Subscribers could view the company’s selection of movies online, order what they wanted and have the DVD delivered to their mailbox. The customer would watch, pop the movie back in a pre-paid envelope and send it back to Netflix. In 1999 they introduced their customers to monthly subscriptions and stopped offering single rentals by 2000. This was the start of a movie rental concept with no due dates or late fees and unlimited rentals per month for a flat fee.

The business plan took a few years to catch on, but by 2003 Netflix posted its first profit of US$6.5 million. By 2005 Netflix was shipping a million DVDs out to subscribers daily from a stock of over 35,000 different film titles. Ten years after its introduction, Netflix had delivered its billionth DVD and was looking towards introducing video on demand using the Internet.

Online streaming of video through Netflix turned the company from being one of the post office’s biggest customers to being the largest source of Internet traffic in North America by 2010. By 2011 Netflix began to acquire content that would be exclusive to their service. Major blockbuster shows like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black put them on the map, while partnerships with Marvel for Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist expanded the audience. Now, Netflix is investing billions in original content for the coming years to cater to its rapidly growing international audience.

The international expansion of Netflix

Netflix began offering its video streaming services to Canada in September 2010 followed by a large expansion into Central and Southern America including Mexico in 2011. This proved to be very lucrative, especially in the Canadian market.

By 2012 it had become available in the UK and Northern Ireland, which was even more successful than their introduction into Canada. From here they slowly integrated into most of the rest of Europe over the next two years. Distribution rights make it impossible for Netflix to provide the same content to all countries, but they attempt to make up for this with their exclusive series and movies as well as adding localised content for their overseas subscribers.

In the early part of 2015, Netflix entered the Australia and New Zealand video streaming markets, followed by Japan and Singapore later that year.

Then, at CES 2016, Netflix shocked the world by switching on in almost 200 different countries around the world. Currently, Netflix is available in every country around the globe except China, Crimea, North Korea and Syria, though the content libraries vary greatly. For a full rundown of what's available on Netflix around the globe, check our international Netflix TV and movie lists.

Where can I buy a Netflix gift card?

Netflix Australia offers gift cards priced at $20, $30 and $50. These can be gifted to a friend or family member, or even used by yourself if you're particularly concerned about storing your payment details online. Below is a list of stores you can purchase Netflix gift cards from in Australia.