Recently I’ve been introducing our Spanish workawayers to Netflix and they look on in awe at the amount of content we can stream in seconds. “I can watch it for free?” they ask, aghast. “Yes, do you not have it in Spain?” I reply, dumfounded.
We don’t realise how lucky we are that we have this service given that a lot of our EU cousins do not. I tend to look to the UK, where they enjoy so many additional streaming services, including Amazon Instant Video which is not available here in Ireland yet, and I must admit I feel envy.
But having someone living in your house who has never ever seen or heard of Netflix is like going back 5-10 years. It gives me a little bit of perspective, and makes me glad we live in Ireland where at least we have one streaming content company for everyone to use, even if we might not get as much content choice as our American friends.
The latest press release from Netflix has me enticed by loads of kids’ programmes to keep me subscribing to Netflix for many years to come. On the heels of this month’s earlier announcement of kids original series Kulipari: An Army of Frogs, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan and Jane, Netflix is also introducing preschool educational shows Cirque du Soleil, Luna Petunia, Word Party, Kazoops! and True & the Rainbow Kingdom. Many of these won't appear until 2006 and 2007 however.
In the meantime, Netflix has been going retro, by offering us tons of old content from my youth. Recently, I've been introducing my kids to one of my favourite TV shows as a wee girl growing up in Yorkshire: Dangermouse.
"He's amazing, he's fantastic, wherever there is danger he is there, Dangermouse..."
My kids think it's mad that I liked something as hatstand as a superhero mouse who lives in a London postbox, but I did, I was crazy about it, but back then the show was on only once a week and at a set time during the day, and if I missed it, I missed it. There was no such thing as catch up TV, or streaming.
I was so mad about this show that I even made a lifesize Penfold out of papier mache for a school art project! Probably ended up in a bin somewhere!
"He's amazing, he's fantastic, wherever there is danger he is there, Dangermouse..."
My kids think it's mad that I liked something as hatstand as a superhero mouse who lives in a London postbox, but I did, I was crazy about it, but back then the show was on only once a week and at a set time during the day, and if I missed it, I missed it. There was no such thing as catch up TV, or streaming.
I was so mad about this show that I even made a lifesize Penfold out of papier mache for a school art project! Probably ended up in a bin somewhere!
Now, for my next retro mission, I want to introduce the kids to Bananaman...
"This is 29 Acacia Road. And this is Eric - the schoolboy who leads an exciting double life. For when Eric eats a banana, an amazing transformation occurs...
Eric...is...BANANAMAN, ever alert for the call to action!"
I just wonder what TV shows my kids will be remembering fondly and showing to their kids in 30 years time.
Eric...is...BANANAMAN, ever alert for the call to action!"
I just wonder what TV shows my kids will be remembering fondly and showing to their kids in 30 years time.
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** I am part of Netflix’s Stream Team and I’m enjoying every minute of it **
