Class, pay TV access and Netflix in Latin America: Transformation within a digital divide

Abstract

In the context of international flows of media products, this article offers an exploration of pay TV and the prospects for streaming television usage in the Latin American region. Based on audience preference data gathered by Kantar Media, the article offers an overview of how the pre-Netflix era looked like in the region. Drawing on the theories of cultural proximity and cultural discount, our results suggest that the international nature of Netflix programming is of particular interest and appeal among the upper middle class and elite, who have the cultural capital to enjoy and appreciate it. The findings also indicate that access to streaming television is hampered by a new digital divide, based in both age or generation, class and geography, which will limit the extent to which services like Netflix will disrupt broadcast and cable/satellite television.