David Farnor | On 03, Apr 2015

Ever wanted a more convenient way to access House of Cards? Good news: beginning this month, Smart TVs, Blu-ray players and set top-boxes from several major brands across Europe will come with a dedicated Netflix button.

The button will allow users to navigate directly to the VOD service on their device, something that has been possible on remote controls in the US since 2011. Now, though, manufacturers will allow European Netflix subscribers to do the same.

“The new Netflix button on remotes in Europe makes watching Netflix as easy as changing the channel on traditional TV, allowing viewers to enjoy our great programming much quicker,” says Bill Holmes, head of business development for Netflix.

Consumers in Europe will find the new Netflix button on remote controls that come with devices from Panasonic, Philips, Sony, Toshiba and Vestel. The remote controls will be included with 2015 – as well as some 2014 – models.

The dedicated Netflix buttons on remote controls are part of a broader effort at Netflix to work with consumer electronics manufacturers to build televisions and other devices for a better Internet TV experience. The streaming service’s drive also includes improving smart TV performance and menu navigation, as well as introducing new features such as faster playback start and a resume function.

Over the last seven years, Netflix engineers have worked with makers of Internet-ready televisions, game consoles, set-top boxes and mobile devices to test their products and ensure consumers get a great Netflix experience right out of the box. Indeed, earlier this year, the company introduced a “Netflix Recommended TV” label that it attaches to approved devices that meet its standards.

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