Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, Netflix changed the game when they started shipping out DVD rentals to subscribers, and they later changed the game again when they transitioned into a video streaming service in 2007. Believe it or not, Netflix has still been shipping out DVDs in red envelopes to this day, but all things eventually come to an end.
Netflix has announced today that the Netflix DVD era is over. After 25 years, Netflix has decided to wind down their physical media branch, which had been set up at DVD.com.
Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos said in a statement today, “After an incredible 25 year run, we’ve decided to wind down DVD.com later this year. Our goal has always been to provide the best service for our members but as the business continues to shrink that’s going to become increasingly difficult.
“So we want to go out on a high, and will be shipping our final discs on September 29, 2023.”
Sarandos continues, “Those iconic red envelopes changed the way people watched shows and movies at home — and they paved the way for the shift to streaming. From the beginning, our members loved the choice and control that direct-to-consumer entertainment offered: the wide variety of the titles and the ability to binge watch entire series. DVDs also led to our first foray into original programming — with Red Envelope Entertainment titles including Sherrybaby and Zach Galifianakis Live at the Purple Onion.
“We feel so privileged to have been able to share movie nights with our DVD members for so long, so proud of what our employees achieved and excited to continue pleasing entertainment fans for many more decades to come. To everyone who ever added a DVD to their queue or waited by the mailbox for a red envelope to arrive: thank you.”
Across these past 25 years, Netflix has shipped out 5.2 billion DVDs to 40 million unique subscribers. The very first DVD they ever sent out? That’d be Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice!
You have until September 29 to get DVDs from Netflix. Make the most of it.
The post Another Blow to Physical Media: Netflix Ending Their DVD Shipping Service After 25 Years appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.