Netflix previously announced that their DVD rental service would be coming to an end. Now, sadly enough, it looks like they’ll be mailing out the final red envelope this week.
Funnily enough, the first DVD shipped by the service happened to be a copy of Beetlejuice. This signaled the launch of Netflix’s rental-by-mail model in 1998. Of course, the company became better known for its streaming service which gradually changed the entertainment industry.
Despite that, however, they continued renting out DVDs to subscribers up until now. As shared via the New York Times, Hank Breeggemann, the general manager of Netflix’s DVD division has announced the end.
“It’s sad when you get to the end, because it’s been a big part of all of our lives for so long,” he began. “But everything runs its cycle. We had a great 25-year run and changed the entertainment industry, the way people viewed movies at home.”
As of this writing, the company’s Anaheim, California plant currently only has six employees left. This is a major difference from the DVD plant’s early days. In fact, the New York Times adds that Netflix happened to be the Postal Service’s fifth-largest customer at its height. This included 58 shipping facilities and 128 shuttle locations which allowed Netflix to offer one-day delivery to 98.5% of its customer base.
And while this customer base has certainly shrunk in recent years, there are still many loyal subscribers. In fact, quite a few have expressed their disappointment with Netflix – operated by co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters – closing down their DVD rental service. On the bright side, subscribers are being given the opportunity to keep their final rentals. It’s certainly a bitter sweet affair. But it’s one that’s also far from the end of physical media which continues to do well elsewhere. Especially with boutique labels that are designed especially for collectors.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional Netflix news as we have it. For now, it’s still pursuing the growth of its streaming service, which includes such hits as Stranger Things.