Europeans Bracing for Netflix

With Netflix poised to make its debut in six European countries, the expansion of that online streaming giant’s international territory is stirring a mix of anticipation, anxiety and political intrigue.

The stakes are high. Europe’s unified market and high Internet use have created ripe territory for American technology companies like Netflix, Amazon and Google. But as their power and reach grow, companies like Netflix are also being assailed by European politicians and business rivals over issues like taxes and competition. The fiercest resistance to the company is emerging in France, where, so far, telecommunications operators like Orange are refusing to carry the service on popular television-top devices that enable Internet streaming because they have not settled on financial terms. Netflix is nonetheless available on tablets, computers and smartphones.