The end of an era has happened as Netflix has shipped its last DVD for the service that has operated for over 25 years. Netflix announced in April that it would be winding down the service which saw the company rise to unimagined popularity and challenged, then dominated, the traditional video rental business which had existed for decades before it. While others may have followed after it, Netflix’s physical mail-based service reshaped an industry in a short span of time but as technology changed, so did its own business model when it began to focus on its streaming services. A timeline shows that Netflix has shipped over 5 billion discs as of 2023.
“There’s a reason we didn’t call the company ‘DVD-by-Mail.com’. The long-term business was streaming,” said CEO and cofounder Reed Hastings in 2017.
Per Netflix:
“In 1998, we delivered our first DVD. This morning, we shipped our last.
For 25 years, we redefined how people watched films and series at home, and shared the excitement as they opened their mailboxes to our iconic red envelopes. It’s the end of an era, but the DVD business built our foundation for the years to come – giving members unprecedented choice and control, a wide variety of titles to choose from and the freedom to watch as much as they want.
Today, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for watching.”
For those who just can let go, Netflix is offering a DVD Sleeping Bag featuring the iconic envelope theme for $50. Pre-orders are up and Netflix says they will ship in October.
“Netflix shipped its final DVD in the mail on September 29, 2023.. but the red envelope remains an enduring symbol of our love of entertainment. Tuck yourself in like a DVD with our envelope-inspired sleeping bag to celebrate.
Long Live The Red Envelope!”