Netflix started as a DVD rental service in 1997 when it was founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. Hastings and Randolph worked together at Hastings' software company, Pure Atria, and discussed business ideas on their way to work. One of those ideas was an online videotape rental service, but the business idea was scrapped due to the difficulty of shipping videotapes.
However, in 1996, Randolph and Hastings read about DVDs and realized they would replace videotapes and be easier to ship. Thus, Netflix.com was launched in 1998 as a DVD rental and sales site, which allowed people to receive and return DVDs by mail. At first, a rental cost around $4 plus a $2 shipping fee and could be kept for seven days.
In 1999, Netflix launched its subscription service, which allowed users to rent as many DVDs as they wanted without any return dates or late fees. By 2007, Netflix had shipped 1 billion DVDs worldwide.
The company introduced an online streaming option for some of its movies and TV shows in the same year. In 2008, Netflix started working with brands like Microsoft's Xbox to allow streaming on different devices. After phasing out its DVD rentals, Netflix focused on expanding its streaming service to other countries and releasing its own original shows and movies.
As of the end of 2021, Netflix had over 2,400 original titles available. Today, the company has over 220 million subscribers in more than 190 countries.
Questions
Which streaming services are the most popular in your country, and do they have a significant amount of original programming?
What TV shows are you currently following or watching?
Have you rewatched any TV series in the past, and if so, which ones?
Have you engaged in binge-watching multiple TV shows before?
Which upcoming TV series are you most anticipating or looking forward to?
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