More handpicked essays just for you.
Analysis on the history of Netflix
Essay about the history of netflix
The History of Netflix Research Papers
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Netflix was originally known as Los Gatos, which started off as an online rentals of DVD company. Netflix adopted its name in 1997, by its CEO Reed Hastings and co-founder Marc Randolph. Netflix had initially started renting out DVDs for a monthly fee of $20, members could choose three movies at a given time. Netflix used the low-tech solution of mailing the DVDs by United States Postal Services. But once the DVD’s are in house, its video on demand: the movies can be watched whenever the viewer wants without incurring huge late fees. This was an advantage for Netflix over other DVD rental services such as, Blockbuster and Redbox. Due its competitive edge and wide range of variety in movie titles, Netflix had raised over $82 million in a successful initial public offering in …show more content…
However, this ideology had changed when the company had decided to split and increase their pricing.
Strengths
Variety: Customer’s have a wide range of movies and video content to choose from compared to other video rental and online streaming services. Convenience: Netflix eliminates the hassle of driving to a traditional retail store and renting the DVDs out. Compared to a Netflix customer who can easily view rent a movie or video content through his or her computer or gaming console. In addition, their services are offered around the world from Latin America to Canada all the way to the Caribbean. This way Netflix is able to connect to its customers in the foreign market where as, their competitors are not as strong in these markets. Therefore, giving a competitive edge for Netflix to dominate the market.
Weaknesses
New Releases: Netflix takes a hit for its ability to acquire newly released content and movies. Although part of their lack to provide new content is due to their partnership agreement with production houses, where as other companies are able to provide newer releases.
Companies like Netflix that have been in the movie streaming industry for many years, and have a large portion of the market for streaming movies make it difficult to others to enter into the online movie rental industry. Netflix has already established a large library of movies and TV shows available for its members. It would take Redbox a number of years and resources in order to catch up with the infrastructure that Netflix already has available and ready for the consumer right now. Redbox would need to analize the opportunity cost of going into a new market or staying and investing in the current kiosks market and making sure that it is the best it can be. Redbox may be subject to others entering into the kiosks market to tap in on a low cost profitable business model. Blockbuster announced the intentions of entering into the kiosks market, which would have taken some of Redbox's share of the profits in a small percentage. However, in 2012 Redbox purchased Blockbuster kiosks business. According to LA times:
A major strength that Netflix has is their ability to push for such innovation. They have reached new lengths since their start in 1997. From in-mail DVDs, to streaming media on smartphones and tablets, it’s unbelievable to witness this in the making. I think the world is a little shocked on the technological advances of Netflix. What they have done so far is spectacular and it is all because of innovation. New ideas and new strategies developed over the last fifteen years has lead Netflix to where they currently stand today. They currently have a subscriber base of over 700, 000, offering thousands of titles on many different devices. This was made possible because of their ability to innovate and strive for new technological advances. I consider Netflix a very brilliant company. Their strengths are very clear, but this isn’t to say that they have no weaknesses. Netflix has far more competitors now, than they had 15 years ago. I would say that their biggest weakness is not offering enough newer content. Some of their competitors such as Hulu, offer a ridiculous amount of new content. Netflix seems to have a large amount of titles, but majority of these titles are older titles. They need to offer newer titles more often than less. With the company advancing and technology on the rise, the younger population aren’t into the older titles. The younger population now take up a good chunk of the customer base. Netflix must
Therefore, Netflix has fewer problems predicting revenue. ? Netflix enjoys lower fixed costs due to the fact that it is an online DVD rental company. As an internet business, Netflix incurs less overhead costs than competitors such as Blockbuster, as well as having fewer employees to operate the physical locations, thus labor costs are greatly reduced. ? Netflix gives customers unlimited access to the largest selection of DVDs. Netflix?s video library consists of over 45,000 titles, making their selection the worlds largest, beating out Blockbuster, Movie Gallery, and Hollywood Video. ?
The average Blockbuster store carries roughly 1,500 movie titles. Netflix carries more than 12,000 titles. It has movies that you can't find anywhere else. And Netflix uses collaborative filtering technology to send you emails that alert you to movies that you might otherwise never consider. Netflix saw the video- and game-rental market moving to DVD and built its business around that trend. Netflix doesn't rent videocassettes, only DVDs (in part because they're lighter and cheaper to mail). Netflix was able to identify and implement a strategy fo...
[1] Halal, Bill. "How NetFlix Beat Blockbuster: An Exemplar of Emerging Technologies." William E Halal RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013.
In conclusion, the vast technology change opens many opportunities for Netflix to grow. By assessing the market environment and challenges, it enables Netflix to overcome the obstacles to remain as the market leader. To achieve the future growth, Netflix should implement both strategic and tactical approaches to compete with others. The strategic and tactical business plans for Netflix are improving content libraries, developing more partnership with production firms, and staying with the low-pricing strategy.
The video rental industry began with brick and mortar store that rented VSH tape. Enhanced internet commerce and the advent of the DVD provided a opportunity for a new avenue for securing movie rentals. In 1998 Netflix headquartered in Los Gatos California began operations as a regional online movie rental company. While the firm demonstrated that a market for online rentals existed, it was not financially successfully. Netflix lost over $11 million in 1998 and as a result significantly changed the business model in 2000. The new strategy included focusing on becoming a nationally based subscription model and focusing on enhancing the subscribers experience on their website. The change in strategic focus has allowed Netflix to grow into the largest online entertainment subscriptions service in the United States with over 6.3 million subscribers (Netflix).
Netflix was established by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings in 1997 in California. Initially, the company offered a DVD-by-mail service for a monthly, flat rate subscription fee. Videos were sen...
From its inception, Netflix has become a business based on superior customer service and has subscribed its business to the market marketing management philosophy. The main purpose behind Hasting’s idea of a better way to rent and enjoy movies was how to provide that service to their clients and not have any late fees. In other words, their customers could enjoy their rentals from Netflix for as long as they wanted, and they would never have to worry about late fees again, so long big movie rental chains! This aspect alone of Netflix’s marketing plan indicates that Netflix has based their marketing plan on market orientation, “a philosophy that assumes that a sale does not depend on an aggressive sales force but rather on a customer’s decision to purchase a product,” (Lamb, 2009, p.7). Many companies that take on this philosophy are said to implementing the market concept. The marketing concept states: “The idea that social and economic justification for an organization’s existence is the satisfaction of customer wants and needs while meeting orga...
Although Hastings vowed to be divergent from other video retailers, his goal was to use an identical pricing strategy; however, one that would “appeal to customers [. . .] who used online shopping as an alternative to traveling to retail outlets” due to ease of access and more preferences (Shih, Kaufman, & Spinola, 2009, p. 3). Furthermore, Netflix launched its business at a time DVDs had barely hit the marketplace as the firm anticipated the new technology to be a promising venture. Nonetheless, within a year DVD players became so vast...
When debating Netflix and movie theaters the factors to consider are convenience, variety, price, and the experience. These are the four most important factors, because people want the best quality that is the most cost effective. Through my research, I show that movie theaters have an unsurpassed experience associated with them, but Netflix is convenient, affordable, and has a wide array of programs.
As the firm moves forward, top managers must pay attention to staying unique to sustain a competitive advantage. Netflix does not own their content, nor do they have any tangible assets. Netflix is a part of a broad range of network users. As technology continues to grow exponentially, Netflix will have to be readily adaptive to change and innovation. Technology never stops growing and evolving, therefore, Netflix’s business platform should never stop growing and evolving. At the same time, they must be careful to remain user friendly and customer centric by keeping the technology at a level where users will not have to obtain a certain set of technological skill sets.
The best part for the consumer is that similar to Netflix, you can engage in a free 2 month trial before you commit to a monthly subscription. This helps consumers continue to evaluate in order to make sure this is the best service to satisfy their need. Also, subscriptions are monthly and can be cancelled at any
...a remarkable opportunity to grow in the industry and lead as an innovative provider, Netflix has much opportunity to satisfy its customers and maintain their attention with their revolutionary business growth (Martala, 2009). Their success goes beyond their product. As stated, it is a combination of their culture of high performance drivers and fosters the “freedom and responsibility” mindset (Elliott, 2010). Because of their innovation and gradual entry into the market, Netflix has the competitive advantage to add layers of products for growth for years to come. Currently, Netflix has the competitive advantage to increase price and retain their current customer base. Even more beneficial, is the opportunity to attract additional subscribers with their new features. To end this, combining their products, price, culture, and strategic plan makes Netflix innovative.
There is strong competition with other companies that offer video streaming at no extra charge. Additionally, Netflix and its competitors are attempting to enter the digital world. Digitally offering television shows is an area of competition that has previously been controlled by