We’ve all heard the phrase “Netflix and chill,” which means either, “watch Netflix and hang out,” or “watch Netflix and do something more PG-13.” But why has Netflix become a meme? Why not “Hulu Plus and chill,” or “Amazon Prime and chill?” There are many other websites and apps that allow people to watch TV shows and movies anywhere. And, similarly to Netflix, many streaming services offer original programs and movies. So what made Netflix have the impact it has on society?
In the past few years, Netflix has grown exponentially in popularity, leaving other streaming services, and even regular television in the dust. At the end of 2016, the website Statista reported that Netflix had 93.8 million subscribers. This was 20 million more subscribers than in 2015, and 47% of subscribers were from their recent expansions into overseas markets.
Netflix was created in 1997, originally as a way to send rental DVDs to people. In 2000, Netflix declined a partnership with the similar company, Blockbuster. While the company had a hard time getting off the ground, it wasn’t until 2003, that the company experienced its first major profit, making $6.5 million with revenues of $272 million.
It wasn’t until 2007 that Netflix began offering streaming television shows and movies online, which caused it’s DVD sales to fall. And in 2011, TV providers offered a Netflix button on their remote controls, allowing customers to access it on their TVs.
But it wasn’t until 2013 that Netflix began offering original programming, allowing viewers to watch a whole season of TV all at once. The first and most popular programs offered were House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Netflix later began acquiring international shows, to lure in more viewers. Despite competition with Amazon Prime’s original show "Transparent," and Hulu picking up "The Mindy Project," Netflix still reigned supreme in the public eye.
Viewers are satisfied with Netflix’s many different options for TV shows with both reruns and original programming. At the beginning of 2015, Netflix made a huge decision by releasing all 10 seasons of the popular sitcom "Friends," a decision well received by audiences. One of the biggest appeals of Netflix was that it would release all seasons of any old TV shows, something that Amazon Prime and Hulu would not do.
In addition, Netflix releases monthly statements about which series and movies are being added and removed from the service during the month. This way, viewers aren’t surprised when they log in to their account and try to search for something. Other sites can remove full series without any notice. In summer 2017, the reality TV series RuPaul’s Drag Race was removed for seemingly no reason, angering many fans.
While other services might have their successes, Netflix seems likely to continue their reign over the TV world, even likely to become more popular than regular TV in the next few years. Netflix has discovered what people like to watch and how they like to watch it, and if they keep on this path, television might be a thing of the past.
