FRANKFURT—Netflix has handed PR duties to MSLGroup as it gears up to launch across a number of European markets. 

The US video streaming company has enlisted the agency to support its rollout in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. The first three markets are being handled by MSL Germany, while the firm's Paris operation is overseeing France.

Already present in the UK, Scandinavia and the Netherlands, Netflix is expected to launch in Germany by the end of the year and in France in September. 

After disrupting the TV market in the US, Netflix will face of range of competitors in the six European markets. For example, it will go up against Vivendi's Canal Plus in France, and Amazon's Prime Instant Video and ProSiebenSat1's Maxdome in Germany.

The company plans to offer online movie and TV subscription services, along with its own productions, such as 'House of Cards'.

According to Reuters, Netflix currently has 48m customers for its monthly subscription service in more than 40 countries, with 35.7m of them in the US. The US streaming business reported a profit of $201m for Q1 of this year, but it is expected that international expansion will continue to run at a loss.

An MSLGroup spokesperson confirmed the agency's remit, but declined to provide further details.