Yesterday’s fourth-quarter earnings report indicates that Netflix added 13 million subscribers in 2014, including 4.3 million during the final three months (marking the company’s strongest quarter of subscriber gains to date). Netflix earnings also grew to a quarterly high of $83.4 million. “Internet TV is growing globally and Netflix is leading the charge,” claims CEO Reed Hastings. Netflix continues to invest heavily in original content and expand internationally as part of its effort to fend off growing competition from Amazon, HBO and YouTube.

HBO plans to introduce its standalone Internet-only subscription offering later this year, while YouTube has been augmenting its amateur video collection with professionally produced content. Amazon continues to launch original series via its pilot program and just announced plans to produce and acquire feature films.

Meanwhile, Netflix has proven successful focusing on distinctive original series that started with “House of Cards” two years ago. However, the company also had to raise its subscription prices to help offset higher licensing costs.

Concerned that opportunities to expand in the U.S. are narrowing, Hastings continues to push the service globally.

“Netflix just entered six more European countries, including Germany, France and Switzerland, and is scheduled to begin streaming in Australia and New Zealand in the spring,” reports The New York Times. “In his Tuesday letter, Hastings assured shareholders the international expansion would be completed by 2017 while ensuring the company remains profitable.”