Netflix might have finally found an ally in a very contentious market. Reuters reports that German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom is in talks with Netflix regarding a potential marketing alliance once the U.S.-based video service begin its international expansion. The news comes via Manager Magazine, a German publication in which it is noted that the two companies are rather far along in negotiations, but they have not reached a deal. In fact, Netflix was still weighing its options with other German telecom companies at the time of publication.
Although Netflix is currently available in over 40 countries, the company has plenty of growing left to do. The global expansion into Europe would include both Germany and France, making this the biggest move yet for the company. According to the most recent estimates from financial firm SNL Kagan, Germany contains the most broadband households in all of Europe, with 29.1 million in 2013.
Interestingly, Deutsche Telekom’s own web-based TV service, “Entertain,” would be in direct competition with Netflix, but the German company declined to comment on the story or explain the potential collaboration.
Along with T-Mobile’s parent company, Netflix will also be competing with Amazon’s Prime Instant Video, ProSiebenSat.1’s Maxdome, Sky Deutschland’s Snap and Vivendi’s Watchever when it launches in Germany later this year.
