EOTO REACTION

During the EOTO presentations, one specific topic got my attention, which was Netflix. This presentation really made me think about how much Netflix has changed the way we watch TV and movies. I’ve used Netflix for years without ever really stopping to consider how it all started or how it became such a big part of our lives. Netflix's impact and history went much deeper than I realized. 

Back in the day, we had Blockbuster and Redbox. I remember going to Blockbuster and hoping they still had a copy of the movie I wanted, and then Redbox came along with those DVD kiosks, which made things a little easier. But even then, there were still annoyances if a popular movie was sold out, you were out of luck, and those late fees for returning DVDs were the worst.

That’s where Netflix founders Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings saw an opportunity. Netflix founders created a service where you could order DVDs online and have them mailed to your home. When you were done, all we had to do was just send them back through the mail. The best part was that there were no late fees and no rush to return a movie. This simple idea was revolutionary back then, and it caught on quickly, earning Netflix around $42 million in its first year of streaming to the public. 

But what really changed the game was when Netflix introduced streaming in 2007. That’s when everything shifted. Suddenly, people didn’t have to wait for DVDs in the mail; they could watch movies and shows instantly on their computer and eventually on their TV or phone. Streaming transformed how we consume media, and Netflix was right at the forefront of that change. It also started creating its own original content, which has now become a huge part of why people subscribe.

What surprised me the most is how far Netflix has come since those early days. In recent times, Netflix has over 84 million paid subscribers and leads the streaming world as number 1. It’s crazy to think about how it went from mailing DVDs to dominating the entertainment industry, especially online. Netflix set the bar that all the other platforms like Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max are trying to meet, which is pretty hard to beat.

The presentation made me realize just how fast things have changed over time. We went from physically going to the store to rent a movie to having an endless library of content right at our fingertips. It’s easy to take Netflix for granted, but hearing about its history made me appreciate just how much it’s shaped
the way we all watch TV and movies today. Netflix has really become the idol for many future streaming services.

I really appreciate the presenter for making Netflix's history so interesting and not just boring facts like some of the other EOTOs. I left with a completely different perspective on how Netflix got to where it is now, and I was astounded by how much the entertainment industry has evolved in such a short period. It was also very easy to take away something from a topic I understand, relate to, and use regularly.