To arrive at the figure he used software that extracted all titles in the "browse" categories on Netflix's Australian website and then put it in a spreadsheet for easy viewing. The Australian Netflix has far fewer titles than the US version. "As usual, it looks like Australians are still getting less titles available," he wrote on his website. "One can only hope the list of titles offered by Netflix in Australia will increase as time goes on." Another analysis, performed by Gyde and Goodfilms, which lets people legally find movies to watch online, found that the Australian Netflix had 220 TV series available (432 TV seasons, 7327 individual TV episodes) and 900 movies. This compares to 940 TV series available on the US version (2124 TV seasons, 34,332 individual TV episodes) and 6170 movies.

A Netflix spokesman said Mr Tsang's figures were incorrect but would not provide a better comparison. But the spokesman confirmed that the Australian catalogue offered fewer titles than the US version. "I can tell you the numbers [calculated by Mr Tsang] are incorrect on both ends," the spokesman said. "That said, we never reveal catalogue numbers - not because we're trying to hide anything but because it's irrelevant. "... Each country catalogue is focused on quality over quantity."

Despite Australians having access to far fewer titles, the Australian version does have several hundred unique titles - ones which aren't available on the US or Canadian Netflix. This comes about from the various deals Netflix has struck around the globe, such as with the ABC to resurface some of its back catalogue. Earlier this year, Netflix said that the content available to Australians on day one might not be what they expected. "The catalogue that the Australians will see on day one will improve on day 30, and day 90, or every couple of weeks – sometimes every day, as we have more content coming in," Netflix's vice-president of product innovation, Todd Yellin, told Australian journalists at the Consumer Electronics Show. "So they shouldn't look at it as, 'This is what you get at Netflix?' when they look at the catalogue on day one. They should look at, 'Wow! This is what I get now, and that thing is just going to keep growing and getting better and better'."

Now that the Australian catalogue has finally been revealed, the 200,000 Australians estimated to already be accessing the US Netflix via location-faking software can now make an informed choice of whether they should switch to the Australian version or stay on the US version. The release of the catalogue follows Netflix formally announcing its Australian pricing on Monday. ‎It will offer three pricing tiers, with the cheapest at $8.99. But the entry-level service will deliver streamed content in standard definition only.



Netflix will also offer an $11.99 plan, which will allow high-definition streaming to up to two screens. A third plan, costing $14.99, will allow streaming of the highest quality content, 4K, to up to four screens. Netflix will compete against Stan, which is priced at $10 a month and offers high definition streaming. Stan is owned by Fairfax Media and the Nine Network.

Netflix's other key rival, the Foxtel- and Seven Network-backed Presto, is priced at $9.99. It only offers content in standard definition. Another competitor in the Australian market, Quickflix, offers its streaming service for $9.99 a month. Netflix, however, isn't collecting GST, meaning it has a 10 per cent cost-advantage over all of the Australian-based services. But this could soon change, with the government indicating companies like Netflix need to pay GST when they come into the country. The issue will be considered in the upcoming discussion paper on tax reform, due to be released next week.

with Hannah Francis and Michael Idato Clarification: An earlier version of this article said Netflix Australia had 693 unique titles - ones which aren't available on the US or Canadian Netflix. But Mr Tsang now says that number is not correct due to the way Netflix labels its content differently in each country. He says he is taking another look at the data to see if a comparison is possible. Mr Tsang's number of estimated available titles in Australia has also been updated to reflect new analysis.