Australia’s latest media streaming service Stan officially launched this week (26 January) on the country’s national holiday, Australia Day.

The platform is a joint venture between Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment and will offer a 30 day free trial before giving users the option to move to a $10 a month full subscription. It advertises itself as having the benefit of “no ads” and “no lock-in contracts.”

The platform enters an increasingly crowded market as it competes with the likes of Foxtel’s Presto along with Quickflix, but benefits from a head-start on US streaming giant Netflix, which is officially due to launch in Australia in March.

The service offers hit series such as Dexter, The Tudors, Sherlock and will also stream the eagerly anticipated Better Call Saul (spin-off of the global phenomenon Breaking Bad) when it hits screens next month.

Mike Sneesby, chief executive of Stan told IF: “We have worked hard to pick some of the best programming and we are offering great value. I can’t see why a lot of people won’t give it a go.”

Like Netflix, it will offer a mix of movies, documentaries and TV shows and currently offers over 750 titles.

Stan is available for up to three people per household on multiple devices including TV’s (via Apple TV and Google Chromecast, but no other smart TVs just yet), smartphones, computers and tablets.

The launch follows Netflix’s announcement last week of its plans for a major acceleration of its global expansion, revealing that it aims to be available in 200 countries within the next two years.