Netflix on Tuesday gave British and Irish viewers access to BBC shows. A new deal will stream all past seasons of key TV shows, including Doctor Who, Spooks, Top Gear, and others. For many, the subscription will act as a way to catch shows after they leave the BBC iPlayer.
Ireland and the UK will see access starting in early 2012. American, Canadian, and Latin American viewers already have access to BBC shows, although it’s implied that those in Europe may get access to extra content.
Much of Netflix’s actions over the past several weeks have been to shore up its British content as it gets a footprint in the country, securing content with Lionsgate, Miramax, and other studios it supports in the US.