Netflix Debuts Internet Movie Subscription Service In Canada (Price: $7.99 A Month)

Netflix was widely rumored to be launching its online movie streaming and subscription service in Canada today, so this shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Still, the company has just made things official, and also announced the price, which is always useful information: $7.99 per month, with the possibility to sign up for a free trial month. For the record: the Canadian introduction marks the first availability of the Netflix service outside the United States.

Netflix has also detailed which devices already let Canadian customers stream movies, TV series, documentaries and whatnot:

– Nintendo Wii
– Sony PS3
– iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch)
– Blu-ray disc players from Samsung and Toshiba
– PCs and Macs

Later this fall, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 should be joining the Netflix streaming ranks. Also to be added later: Blu-ray disc players from VIZIO and Insignia, Internet TVs from Samsung and the recently retuned Apple TV when it makes its way to Canada.

As part of today’s launch, Netflix announced Canadian license agreements with major studios such as Lionsgate, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox and Universal Pictures, as well as Canadian distributors Alliance Films, Maple Pictures, eOne and Mongrel.

Content available to Canadian Netflix members as of today includes films like “Superbad,” “A Beautiful Mind” and “Slumdog Millionaire” while first-run feature films from Twentieth Century Fox, including “(500) Days of Summer,” “My Life in Ruins” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” will be released concurrently with their release on linear pay TV in Canada.

In-cycle programming including the new romantic comedy “Running Wilde”, which will stream from Netflix on the same day as the show airs on network television in the U.S.

Prior season episodes of TV series “Mad Men,” “Leverage” and “Monk” are also available, as well as shows from the Discovery Channel (“MythBusters”), Nickelodeon (“SpongeBob SquarePants”), Canada’s Nelvana Studio (animated episodes of “Babar” and “Franklin”) and the BBC (“Robin Hood” and “Fawlty Towers”).

Initially, the Netflix Canadian service will be available in English only, but the company said it expects to add French language capability over time, not pinning a specific date.

It’s also worth noting that Netflix’s Canadian offering is for online streaming only, with no physical DVD rental service planned, at least for the time being.

Dear Canuck readers, tell us what you think of all the above.