The Creation of Netflix

Netflix is a streaming service that allows people to watch TV shows, movies, documentaries, and animations without commercials. Netflix can be watched on any internet-connected device that offers the program, such as computers, smartphones, smart TVs, game consoles, tablets, and streaming media players. In order to access Netflix, a person must subscribe to the streaming service by creating an account and paying for the service monthly. 

So, who created Netflix? Two serial entrepreneurs named Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph invented Netflix in August 1997.  Reed Hastings is a businessman, as well as an advocate for education reform and a former member of the California State Board of Education. Marc Randolph is a speaker, advisor, and an environmental advocate. Marc Randolph also works at High Point University! How cool is that? Randolph is High Point's Entrepreneur in Residence. He works with HPU students of all different majors on campus, specifically students with communication, business, and entrepreneurship majors. Together, Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph created one of the greatest streaming services of all time. 

Netflix was founded in Scotts Valley, California in 1997. During the time Netflix was founded, Marc Randolph was working as a marketing director for Reed Hasting's company Pure Atria. Later on, Hastings sold Pure Atria for $700 million to the Rational Software Corporation in 1997.  Later that year, Randolph and Hastings came up with the idea for Netflix, while commuting between their homes. The serial entrepreneurs decided that DVDs were the ideal product to sell for the company.

 When Netflix was first founded in 1997, its purpose was selling movie rentals over the internet. The founding of Netflix led to Netflix.com in 1998, where DVD rentals were sold. In 1999, Netflix added a subscription service, which allowed people to buy unlimited DVD rentals at a monthly rate. In 2000, Netflix offered recommendations systems and then became public for the viewers in 2002. Netflix hit 4.2 million members in 2005 and then introduced streaming in 2007. The year 2007 completely changed the game for Netflix because streaming allowed people to watch content instantly online. In 2009, Netflix began partnering with electronic companies to get Netflix on gaming consoles and smart TVs. Netflix became accessible in Europe in 2012 and then introduced its own original shows in 2013. Netflix became available worldwide in 2016 and the company has continued to grow its popularity over the years. 

Today, Netflix has over 151 million paid subscribers in over 190 countries all over the world.  Netflix is popular among people of all ages because the service provides shows and movies for all age groups. People no longer have to wait for their favorites shows to air at a specific time or sit through boring commercials, thanks to Netflix.  Netflix has multiple episodes of each TV show the service provides, which allows people to binge watch their favorite shows. Binge watching shows on Netflix became so common that "The Netflix Effect" was born. "The Netflix Effect" is when a new Netflix series launches unknown actors to fame overnight, resulting in millions of people binge watching the show. 

There are multiple Netflix shows that became popular through "The Netflix Effect". One example of a show that became popular through "The Netflix Effect" is "The Outer Banks". "The Outer Banks" came out on Netflix in April 2020 when everyone was in quarantine due to COVID-19. The show came out at the perfect time because everyone was stuck in the house bored with nothing to do. "The Outer Banks" launched multiple unknown actors to fame overnight for their amazing acting and good looks. These actors include Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Rudy Pankow, Madison Bailey, and Jonathan Daviss. Some other shows that became popular through "The Netflix Effect" include "Riverdale", "All American", "13 Reasons Why", "Stranger Things", and more. 

Netflix is a significant streaming service that has changed our world for the better. From starting out as a small DVD rental company to becoming a worldwide streaming phenomenon, Netflix has come an extremely long way in the technology industry. The streaming service is now used all over the world and continues to add more content for viewers to watch. The creation of Netflix has positively impacted our technological world.