Netflix faces some challenges to its global ambitions

New York

NETFLIX already streams popular films, television series and, increasingly, its own original entertainment to 57 million subscribers in more than 50 countries. The service is expanding rapidly - Cuba was added this week - and Netflix now projects it will be available in 200 countries by 2017, giving the company essentially global coverage.

The company's chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, acknowledged in a recent conference call that such sweeping expansion will require Netflix to overcome "cultural barriers" as it tries to make its offerings more global. In Europe, some of those challenges are already apparent.