Netflix buoyant about Spain launch, despite piracy concerns

The chief executive of streaming service Netflix has said he is unconcerned about the reportedly high levels of piracy rates in Spain ahead of its launch there in October.

Reed Hastings, chief executive of the online streaming service, told Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he “thinks Spain will be one of our most successful countries”.

Netflix is set to launch its service in Spain, Italy and Portugal in October.

Earlier this year, Spain further strengthened its copyright laws by introducing fines of up to €600,000 for website operators that fail to respond to notice-and-takedown requests.

But a recent report from consulting company GfK titled “Piracy and Digital Content Consumer Habits” showed that 88% of all digital content downloaded in Spain in 2014 was illegal, up from 84% in 2013.

Unperturbed, Hastings said “you can call it a problem, but the truth is that piracy has also created a public used to viewing content on the internet. We offer a simpler and immediate alternative to finding a torrent. ”

Netflix had not responded to a request for further comment at the time of publication.