Netflix has said that its members instantly watched more than two billion hours of TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Aided by global expansion, Netflix streaming hours grew dramatically in 2011 with now more than 20 million streaming members globally.
“We were thrilled to deliver more than two billion hours of TV shows and movies across 45 countries in the fourth quarter,” said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings. “Netflix delights members by giving them choice, convenience and control over the entertainment they love for an incredibly low price.”
Throughout 2011, Netflix continued to add to its already expansive variety of TV shows and movies in the United States, signing new multi-year agreements with CBS, Twentieth Century Fox, Lionsgate, Miramax, Open Road Films, NBCUniversal, Dreamworks Animation, MGM and the Disney-ABC Television Group among others.
The company recently announced the creation of its first original series House of Cards, a gripping political thriller from executive producer David Fincher and starring two-time Academy Award winning actor Kevin Spacey.
Another Netflix original, Lilyhammer, starring Steven Van Zandt of “The Sopranos” and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, as a New York gangster in Norway, premieres on Netflix in the US, Canada and Latin America on February 6.
“In the coming months, Netflix members can enjoy complete seasons of great TV series from all the major networks and most branded cable channels as well as fantastic films like Drive, Hugo, Captain America and Margin Call,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “The more great TV shows and movies Netflix adds, the more people watch.”