Netflix is the streaming platform in fashion. His own production films and series have reached such a level of popularity that subscriptions have multiplied in recent times. It allows you to view content on any device and at any time, just have an Internet connection and pay a flat monthly fee.
But how was Netflix born?
It was created in California (United States), on August 29, 1997, by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. It is popular rumor that the spark of the idea began when Hastings rented the Apollo 13 movie from the Blockbuster video chain, and did not return the tape until several days later, for which he had to pay a penalty of $ 40.
This fact caused Hastings to think about a system for renting movies, through electronic commerce, that did not carry fines. At the beginning, users ordered a film from the catalogs of this virtual video store and when they returned it, they could request a second one. However, the real innovation occurred with the visualization of the contents in a streaming way. Of course, the “Netflix revolution” has been in crescendo over the years, although it is not until 2015 when it begins its international expansion. The figures speak for themselves: in 2008 it had 8.4 million subscribers, and today there are almost 140 million users around the world.
Regarding the subscription model, consumers can choose how much to pay based on the quality of streaming and the screens they can have simultaneously viewing content. Also, recently, Netflix allows us to view movies and series offline just by downloading them previously.
In 2011, the company began betting on the creation of original content productions , and it did so with the launch of the political drama House of Cards , directed by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey, two heavyweights of the film industry. Currently, series such as For Thirteen Reasons , Stranger Things or The Crown are having a great acceptance among the public and critics. It also highlights the creation of feature films, which are reproduced only on its platform, without going through the cinema.
Today, Netflix is the leader in streaming platforms, but in addition to the competition it already has (HBO, Amazon Prime), in the coming months new rivals such as Disney, Apple and Warner will emerge, threatening to remove the crown.
It is clear that the way we consume audiovisual material is changing; We no longer have to swallow advertising to see the movie or series that we like, or be subject to a schedule. Now we have access to those same contents immediately, without waiting, schedules or breaks. It remains to be seen whether this method of on-demand reproduction will one day end traditional television or whether, on the contrary, there will continue to be a market for everyone. Time will tell.
More information at masqueapple.com
