Spain

News Byte

Netflix Heads to U.K. to Take on Amazon

Peter Kafka in Media on October 24, 2011 at 4:04 am PT

Netflix says it will bring its streaming video service — but not its DVDs — to the United Kingdom and Ireland in “early 2012.” The announcement confirms earlier reports and speculation that the company would target the U.K. after a Latin American expansion in 2011; other reports have the company moving into Spain as well. Unlike other Netflix expansion moves, in the U.K. the company will run up against its first entrenched digital competitor: Amazon’s LoveFilm, most often known as “the Netflix of Europe.” Netflix reports Q3 earnings this afternoon.

News Byte

Netflix Reportedly Eyeing Spain for Next Expansion

Peter Kafka in Media on August 17, 2011 at 4:16 am PT

The next stop on the Netflix tour could be Spain. Trade journal Screen Daily (via Deadline) cites a single source — the head of a Spanish industry group — which says the video rental company “had contacted various Spanish producers ahead of its launch.” Netflix has already announced a major expansion into Latin America, but has said it is targeting another territory for international expansion in 2012; many observers have believed that the United Kingdom will be its next target.

News Byte

Kobo Opens New Chapter in Europe

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on April 11, 2011 at 12:01 am PT

Toronto-based Kobo, the e-reading service going up against Amazon, Apple and others, is expanding into Europe. It plans to launch local content versions starting in Germany and Spain in May, and then expand to France, Italy and the Netherlands. Kobo, which isn’t focused on selling hardware, turned one in December and has sold millions of e-books in at least 100 countries.

News Byte

Spanish Private-Sales Site Privalia Expands to Germany Via Acquisition

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on March 7, 2011 at 3:46 pm PT

The online private-sales retailer Privalia, which operates in Spain, Italy, Brazil and Mexico, is buying Germany’s Dress for Less. Reuters said that according to its sources, Privalia paid between $210 million and $280 million. On Monday, Privalia raised roughly $123 million from private equity firms General Atlantic, Highland Capital Partners, Index Ventures and Insight Venture Partners to fund the transaction, which also included debt and shares. Together, Privalia is forecasting that they will achieve triple-digit revenue growth this year to around 400 million euros. In December, eBay purchased Germany-based brands4friends for $200 million.

News Byte

LivingSocial Acquires Stake in Europe's Let's Bonus

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 13, 2011 at 7:28 am PT

LivingSocial has acquired a majority stake in Let’s Bonus, which operates a daily deals site in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Argentina and Mexico. With the stake, LivingSocial now offers steep discounts via email for spas, restaurants and other services in more than 170 markets, serving 16 million subscribers in 10 countries, compared to its archrival, Groupon, which serves 50 million subscribers in 40 countries. LivingSocial did not disclose how much it paid or how big of a stake it purchased. The company recently raised more than $180 million in capital from Amazon and others.