Starting out only as the DVD rental business back in the 90s, Netflix has forged ahead quite dramatically and has established itself as the most popular and leading entertainment service in the world.
Previously, if you wanted to watch something on demand only a few decades ago, you needed a VCR player and a video cassette. Back then, a movie night was the ultimate get-together with family or friends. That rarely happens these days.
One may watch their favorite TV shows and movies whenever and wherever they want, thanks to a range of streaming services, smart TV technologies, and an abundance of high-quality content.
You can watch different things on many screens in the same house if you have a premium Netflix streaming account. That means no more arguments about who gets to watch what on the television.
So, what contributed to Netflix’s success over the past decade and how has it evolved so much? Let’s find out.
Netflix’s evolution over the years
Netflix was one of the most popular streaming sites in 2019, according to Statista, with 151.6 million subscribers worldwide. The popular platform offers a diverse range of content, with numerous content libraries worldwide.
On this platform, you can find binge-worthy Netflix shows as well as shows and movies from other networks as well.
Netflix was first released back in 1997. It was a DVD rental service that was available online. People could simply order video on demand back then by using their PCs and an internet connection.
They would send the DVD to the customers once the order was received. Customers were then obliged to return the DVD by mail to the company. The cost of a movie DVD was $4, while the cost of delivery was $2.
One user could only order one movie at a time from Netflix, and they may return it whenever they wanted. However, customers had to return the last rented DVD before getting a new one.
Fast forward to today: the platform has experienced a complete transformation!
Netflix partnered with different electronic companies back in 2009 and initiated Netflix on gaming consoles and smart TVs. The same process and collaborations continued for a few more years and the platform was able to gain access to Europe back in 2012.
If we look at Netflix in 2016, it has now spread across the world. The company paid more attention to creating original content and growing its membership worldwide.
Quite smartly, Netflix used various other content creators and were able to beat them at their own game. It stole the viewership of other content creators by licensing their content and taking rights.
Netflix now allows its users to choose any television show or movie from its massive library of content in exchange for a nominal monthly or annual subscription fee.
Best on Netflix
The following are some of the best Netflix productions:
Movies
- The Irishman
- Marriage Story
- Tick, tick, boom
TV shows
- Stranger things
- Queen’s Gambit
- Dark
- House of Cards
- Squid Game
- Unbelievable
- Ozark
What you don’t about Netflix
Here are some controversial and fun facts about the streaming giant.
- The company’s name is a compound word, which means it is made up of two different words. Netflix is accessible via internet connectivity, therefore ‘Net’ refers to the Internet, and flix is a spelling variation of the term ‘Flicks,’ which is translated as cinema.
- You can watch Netflix in 190 countries worldwide.
- China, North Korea, and Syria are the three countries that are unable to access Netflix.
- The streaming site is also unavailable in Crimea, which is a disputed territory.
- It has gathered over 17,000 titles in its collection since 2007 after it transitioned from a video rental business to a streaming service.
- Netflix continues to offer DVD rental services even after launching its streaming website.
- According to Netflix, because it’s a global site and everyone can watch it, they offer multiple language options depending on the country.
- Netflix also includes subtitles in 37 languages, as well as 34 alternative dubbing languages.
- Subtitles can be easily customized by users. You can alter the font, shadow, color, and window size, among other things.
Factors Contributing to Netflix’s Evolution
It was a major game-changer in the market when Netflix launched its streaming site and application. In the year 2010, Blockbuster, a competitor in the movie rental market, went bankrupt. Another issue that many people overlooked was that Netflix focused on the television sector rather than just movies.
As television ratings began to decline, their decision to stream TV series on Netflix proved to be advantageous. Cable television subscribers began to switch to Netflix.
Since then, the number of cable TV subscribers has fallen below 40 million and continues to decline year after year. The reason behind this decline is Netflix and the following benefits it provides:
- Netflix provides TV shows without advertisement, unlike any other TV channel or network.
- There is a large selection of series and movies to choose from.
- Netflix creates a personalized watch list for each individual based on their preferences and previously watched movies and series.
- This tool allows you to select the content that is more appealing to you without having to go through the entire content library.
- You don’t have to wait a week to watch another episode with Netflix.
- The monthly or annual subscription fees for various plans and packages are far less expensive than a TV cable subscription.
Conclusion
Netflix has been operating since 1997, but it made a major impact when it emerged as the ultimate video-on-demand streaming service. It is an incredible entertainment platform for us to reclaim our sanity after a long tiring day. Netflix has only managed to grow forward and gain members with its exceptional services, both in terms of entertainment and business.