• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, September 10, 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, per sources.

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

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

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.

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

The rollout will not be without its challenges. The Associated Press reported that only 20% of Brazil's 42 million Internet users have the required connection speed to receive downloaded movies. For now, streaming is the only option that Netflix offers in the expanding markets.

Nexflix has about 25 million subscribers in the U.S and Canada combined, with most -- about 23 million -- in the U.S.