• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, September 9, 2011

Netflix has awarded media planning and buying duties to WPP's MEC for the Latin American region where it is currently launching its service offering, according to sources.

The movie and TV program-distribution company just launched in South America earlier this week with service to Brazil.

The company has indicated that it will expand to 43 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean this month, including Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Central America and Mexico among others.

MEC, which handles media duties in the U.S. and Canada, declined to comment. A Netflix rep also declined to confirm or deny that the assignment had been made.

According to Kantar Media Netflix spent more than $260 million in ads in the U.S. last year and is expected to spend at least another $100 million on ads in the new markets where it is rolling out.

Commenting on the expansion, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings stated, "We are excited to be bringing Netflix to Latin America and the Caribbean. People throughout the region are online in ever-greater numbers and they love movies and TV shows. We are proud to bring them the Netflix experience of instantly enjoying as many movies and TV shows as they want, when they want for one low price. "

The roll out won't be without its challenges. The Associated Press reported for example that only 20% of Brazil's 42 million internet users have the required connection speed to receive downloaded movies. And for now, streaming is the only option that Netflix is providing in the markets where it is expanding.

The company has about 25 million subscribers in the U.S and Canada combined, with most—approximately 23 million—located in the U.S.