Netflix Gets More Northern Exposure

Bell is the latest Canadian pay TV operator to forge a direct integration with Netflix, announcing Monday that it will provide access on set-tops powering its Fibe and FibreOP TV services.

Bell, which also markets its own multiplatform SVOD service, CraveTV, said all Fibe TV receivers have been automatically upgraded to support Netflix, which will offered as an app on the telco’s pay TV platforms.

Bell said it added 67,908 net new Fibe TV and FibreOP TV subs in Q3, and that it ended the period with 1.1 million IPTV subs, up 23% from the year-ago quarter.

Netflix launches service in Canada in 2010, but does not break out how many subscribers it has there. It ended the third quarter with 69.17 million subs worldwide, including 43.18 in the U.S.

Cogeco, a Canadian cable operator, also provides direct access to Netflix via a TiVo-powered offering that was introduced about a year ago.