Fancy free Netflix?

Here’s something to look forward to amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: Netflix is having a free weekend on December 5.

StreamFest, as the free weekend is called, will begin at 12 a.m. on December 5 and will run through 11:59 p.m. on December 6, allowing everyone to watch whatever they like on the online streaming platform for free with some caveats. StreamFest is only available in India.

‘Teen Patti’ available on Netflix

For fans of online teen patti, the thriller “Teen Patti” is available on the online streaming service. Produced by Ambika Hinduja, the film follows a mathematics professor played by Amitabh Bachchan who is working on his thesis on probability and tries to relate it to the real money teen patti online.

Aside from Teen Patti, Netflix offers a wide array of selections for all types of film buffs. Netflix India Vice President for Content Monika Shergill wrote in a blog post: “Pick from some of the biggest Indian movies and series: experience the anticipation of “What happens in 25 days?” in Sacred Games, go on a mad ride with the newly released Ludo, and be inspired by the Telugu hit Miss India. Or pick international movies and series: feel the adrenaline rush of Extraction; and be immersed in a crime drama with the Spanish series, La Casa de Papel. Your kids will also love our very own Mighty Little Bheem, and be able to choose their own adventure with the interactive Boss Baby: Get that Baby.”

COVID-19 causes surge in online streaming

Lockdown measures enforced by state and national governments in India, as well as authorities around the world, due to the COVID-19 pandemic have brought about a surge in online streaming and TV watching activities globally.

The surge has prompted streaming services like Netflix to reduce the load on telecom networks. Locally, Netflix India reduced traffic on telecom networks by 25%—although the overall streaming quality remains the same.

“Given the crisis, we’ve developed a way to reduce Netflix’s traffic on telecommunications networks by 25% while also maintaining the quality of our service. So consumers should continue to get the quality that comes with their plan - whether it’s Ultra-High, High or Standard Definition. We believe that this will provide significant relief to congested networks and will be deploying it in India for the next 30 days,” Ken Florance, VP Content Delivery of Netflix, said.

How to join Netflix StreamFest

Users need sign up on Netflix.com/StreamFest without adding any payment info or download the Netflix app to join the free weekend on Netflix. One sign-in will give a user access to a standard definition stream—similar to Netflix’s Rs.499 “Basic” plan. Once they’re logged in, they can stream the shows from any device and get access to Netflix’s features like creating profiles, setting parental controls, browsing in Hindi, among other things.

Netflix, however, will limit the number of free viewers, so don’t be surprised if you see a message saying “StreamFest is at capacity.” Just wait for Netflix’s message when you can start streaming. Remember to set a reminder with your email or phone number so you know as soon as StreamFest is live.