History of Netflix Company Essay

Competitive advantage.

As soon as Netflix was founded in 1997, it employed a unique strategy of renting out DVDs at a fixed monthly rate. This outstanding strategy enabled the company to win many customers. The subscribers enjoyed the convenience brought about by the unlimited access to DVDs.

They could access the movies of their choice from anywhere, and this reduced the shipping expenses and DVD handling inconveniences. The online movie service enabled Netflix to obtain the “first to market” competitive advantage. Since then, Netflix has dominated in the online movie service providers, and it employs competitive strategies to maintain its customers.

Blockbuster, Wal-Mart and Comcast are the main competitors of Netflix. The healthy competition between the three companies has greatly benefited the customers. Before blockbuster could wake up and recognize the online subscription technique, Netflix had already domineered in the market. Wal-Mart and Blockbuster are very rich companies and they immediately launched services similar to those of Netflix.

However, since Netflix had already won the “first to market” competitive advantage, the two competitors experienced uninspiring sales and pulled back. This marked yet another advantage to Netflix, and its online subscription business boomed. Further, the company employed service differentiation strategies to retain customers and obtain new ones.

Netflix realized that maintaining its competitive advantage needed a reevaluation and embracement of the technological transformations. Immediately after the introduction of the smart phones, the company offered a mobile application for the Apple iPad and iPhone.

To crown it all, Barnes and Noble bookstore giants were impressed by Netflix’s efforts, and they signed a deal with the company to pre-install Netflix’s apps on their tablets.

The company’s managers are alert; they check out on new technologies and offer their apps. With this working spirit, the future of the company is bright, and its competitive advantage will prevail for a long time. Netflix competitors will have to work extra hard to beat the highly esteemed company.

Netflix’s other competitive advantage against its competitors is its response to customer needs. With the evolving world, customers want to purchase things using the most reliable method. Netflix have made it very convenient for customers to purchase movies through their smart phones and tablets.

The company offers titles of the newest movies at considerably reduced prices. For those who prefer to have the DVDs, the company has an online delivery program that enables customer to receive DVD’s of their choice without leaving their homes.

The home delivery service meets the needs of the aged and ailing persons who would like to obtain entertainment at the comfort of their home. Netflix also takes care of the needs of the children. Recently, the company introduced the “just for kids” segment in the iPad apps. This application offers movies and shows for children under the age of 12.

While many competitors would think that lowering price is what would attract customers, Netflix focuses on maintain high quality services. Having won the First-To-Market competitive advantage, the company aims at maintaining its customers by providing worthwhile services.

Although Netflix’s prices are higher as compared to the competitors’ prices, its royal customers purchase movies from them because they obtain value for their money.

The discussions imply that Netflix stands at a very high competitive advantage over its competitors. It holds at least 33% of the online video downstream market. Netflix has done a lot of research to identify its strengths, and weaknesses. The “first to market” competitive advantage is the greatest strength that the company has struggled to maintain all through.

It has managed to retain old customers, gain new customers, and most importantly, sustain its competitive advantage without necessarily competing on price. The highly esteemed business strategies create a natural entry barrier and businesses shy off to compete with Netflix.

Value chain analysis

Value chain analysis is a strategy that seeks to increase customer satisfaction, and have an effective control of costs. Netflix has employed various strategies that enable it to run its activities smoothly and meet the customers’ needs. Their strategies range from inbound logistics, strategic operations, marketing strategies, and esteemed customer care services.

Inbound logistics : Netflix has maintained enough DVD stock for the most popular movies. Therefore, customers have a high reliability trust on Netflix because they know that they will always get what they want whenever they want it. The company ensures it is among the first companies to receive and distribute new movie titles to meet the need of the new generation.

Strategic operations : Netflix works towards ensuring that whatever they sell is of high quality. The operations involve manufacturing and testing of the DVDs to ensure they are in good working conditions. The company ensures that they offer excellent movie titles and excellent customer services to have return customers.

Marketing : Netflix have upgraded their website to contain all the needs of their subscribers. The home page displays the available DVDs and the accompanying recommendation for each of the DVD.

The site is personalized such that subscribers can access DVDs of the same series or theme. Research indicates that majority of the Netflix’s subscribers were recommended by friends who had experienced the company’s excellent services.

Internal organization : Internal organization is a very important aspect that portrays the true image of the company. With the help of a control system, the internal employees are highly organized to attend to the various needs of the customers. Office workers organize and determine the DVDs that need distribution and re-stocking.

The human resource takes the core responsibility of recruiting new staff and training existing ones when need arises. The finance officers ensure transparency of all operations, and the accountants account for every amount of money that passes through the finance office. The internal service providers work tirelessly to maintain Netflix’s competitive advantage.

Customer support : Netflix communicates with its customers through the internet. The number of subscribers and DVD titles are infinite. The customer service supporters are always present to respond to the needs of the customers. The design of the Netflix website is created in a manner that strengthens the relationship between the service provider and the customer.

The recommendation feature makes the company’s services unique and smart as compared to competitors’ services. Further, the customer service providers are readily available to respond promptly to the customer queries. Service providers have developed a way to study the customers and maneuver the operating decisions.

Research and development : Netflix managers are always alert to identify the newest technological advancements that can help in improving their business. With the help of the procurement department, the Netflix managers can easily identify the needs of their customers and address them accordingly. The value chain analysis implies that the company has immense control of its internal and external activities, and this has contributed to its success to having a competitive advantage above its competitors.

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Bibliography

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How and When Did Netflix Start? A Brief History of the Company

You probably watch or hear about a Netflix show everyday. Here's the story of how the streaming juggernaut came to dominate home entertainment.

The top video streaming service, Netflix, started by shipping DVDs to customers by mail. Fast forward a few decades, and Netflix consumes more than 15 percent of the world's internet bandwidth and has subscribers in more than 190 countries.

How did it achieve such staggering success? It has been a long road of trial and error, luck, and perfect timing. This article covers the history behind Netflix, including how it started, when it became an online streaming service, and all the key milestones in the company's journey.

The Idea Behind Netflix

Netflix was founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in a small California city called Scotts Valley in Santa Cruz county.

Hastings has said the idea was sparked by a $40 fine he got for renting the movie Apollo 13 from long-dead Blockbuster and returning it six weeks late. While working out at the gym one day, the sting of the fine inspired him to think of a service that allowed one to order a movie online and get it by mail.

According to Marc Randolph, this story is false and was just a marketing gag. Instead, in early 1997, Reed was the CEO of the company they worked for (Pure Atria), and Marc was its VP of Corporate Marketing. Because a looming merger with another firm would leave them both out of a job, Marc says Reed had told him, "Let's come up with an idea and you can run it and I'll fund it."

As they carpooled to work every day from their homes in Santa Cruz to Silicon Valley, Marc, who wanted to start something like Amazon, pitched all sorts of e-commerce ideas to Reed: surfboards, custom-built baseball bats, personalized dog food, and home-delivery shampoo. To all of them, Reed's reply was simply, "that will never work."

Then, Marc heard of a hot new product invented in Japan called the DVD. He realized DVDs would soon replace VHS Cassettes, and after a bit of brainstorming in the car on Highway 17, Reed was sold on the idea.

On a hot summer in 1997, Marc and Reed walked into Logos Books & Records in Santa Cruz, bought a CD of Patsy Cline's greatest hits, and mailed it to Reed's house a few blocks across the town. When the CD arrived intact, they knew they had found their ticket to e-commerce glory.

On August 29, 1997, Netflix was registered and set up using at least $1.9 million from Reed Hastings, and other investors later supplemented this capital. Hastings became Chairman with 70% ownership, and Marc Randolph, the CEO and a minority owner.

The Early Days of Netflix

After a few iterations in its first few years, Netflix eventually crafted a successful business model: a subscription-based service with no due dates or late fees and unlimited access to content at $19.95.

It also had a queue that subscribers use to specify the order in which DVDs should be mailed to them and a delivery system that automatically mails out a DVD as soon as the previous DVD is returned.

At first, Netflix would pack the DVDs in white envelopes, and it wasn't until 2000 that Netflix changed them to yellow envelopes. Afterward, it only took the company one year to switch to the iconic red envelopes we're more familiar with. The DVDs arrived in a thin package with a postage-paid return sleeve inside, and Netflix covered all postage costs.

The rest, as they say, is history. This formula proved a hit, and Netflix steadily added subscribers. Within five years of launch, Netflix was shipping millions of DVDs daily, and it quickly became one of the best places to rent movies online .

Key Netflix Milestones

As you can see, Netflix didn't become one of the best streaming services in the world instantly; it took the company a lot of time and effort before it became what it is today. Here are a few milestones that made Netflix the streaming giant we know and love.

August 29, 1997 : Netflix is registered in Scotts Valley, California. The service is called Kibble in beta testing, a kind of dog food to remind the team of the old advertising adage that "It doesn't matter how good your dog food advertising campaign is if the dogs won't eat the dog food."

April 14, 1998 : The website launches as Netflix at 9 am. The video library has approximately 900 titles. Marc orders the movie Casino as a test, and it works. Within 15 minutes, the website crashes as other orders start coming in, forcing them to run to the store to buy more servers. At the end of the first day, they booked 137 orders.

1999 : A total of 239,000 subscribers sign up. Netflix's video library expands to 3,100 titles. After a meeting between Marc and Sony goes bad and growth becomes sluggish, Reed demotes Marc to President and takes over as CEO.

2000 : Reed Hastings approaches former Blockbuster CEO John Antioco and asks him to buy Netflix for $50 million. During the meeting, John turns him down and laughs at Reed and the Netflix team.

2001 : Netflix hits one million subscribers and continues to grow.

2002 : Netflix goes public in May. The IPO raises $82.1 million and values Netflix at $309.7 million. Reed has 500,000 shares, and Marc has 166,000 shares.

Netflix opens regional warehouses, bringing overnight delivery in response to subscriber complaints that it took too long to get their DVDs.

2003 : Marc Randolph leaves Netflix and sells his shares.

2006 : Netflix finally becomes profitable, generating more than $80 million. Subscribers rise to 6.3 million.

2007 : Netflix begins streaming content, delivering directly to TVs, computers, and tablets through its Watch Now service. The first trial is in Canada. The service launches with 1,000 titles and is included free in Netflix's $5.99 per month physical DVD subscription tier.

2010 : Netflix changes its focus to streaming and introduces it to the United States. Reed tells investors, "three years ago, we were a DVD by-mail company that offered some streaming. We are now a streaming company which also offers DVD by mail."

Blockbuster files for bankruptcy.

2011 : Netflix splits its streaming business and its DVD rental business into two distinct subscription packages: Netflix for streaming and Qwikster for DVD rentals. Reed reverses the unpopular decision in less than a month after 800,000 subscribers abandon Netflix.

2012 : Netflix starts making original shows. Its first show is Lilyhammer, followed by House of Cards in 2013. Since then, it has produced over 1,900 originals (becoming one of the best streaming services for original content ), many of which, like Squid Game and The Crown, have gone on to be tremendously popular and won many awards.

2013 : Netflix introduces user profiles and rolls this feature out to all Netflix subscribers in August.

2015 : Netflix is present in 50 countries.

2016 : Netflix goes live in 130 countries simultaneously and adds local languages to its user interface, subtitles, and dubbing.

2017 : Netflix officially hits 100 million subscribers worldwide.

2021 : Netflix hits 209 million subscribers in over 190 countries. Notable exceptions are North Korea, Syria, China, and Iran. It has more than 15,000 titles across all its international libraries and earns over $25 billion in annual revenues. The company introduces mobile games, allowing users to play games on Netflix .

2022 : Netflix loses 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter , the first time in over ten years.

Because of this massive loss, the company starts to think of different ways to gain more subscribers. For example, Netflix starts to crack down on password sharing and introduces its first ad-supported tier called Basic with Ads , which offers almost content at a lower price in exchange for sitting through ads every hour.

The Future of Netflix

According to Dorothy Ghettuba, the head of African Programming, it is no longer necessary to go to Hollywood. With Netflix, one can be a superstar in their backyard and export their content to the world.

Over the years, Netflix has gained competitors, including Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, and HBO Max. These competitors invest heavily in different ways to entertain their audiences. To stay ahead of the pack, Netflix may have to embrace new emerging technologies and try to keep its content fresh.

  • Startup of the week

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Netflix: A Journey of a Startup Who Changed the Entertainment Industry Forever

| 11 minutes read

The journey of Netflix was not easy, but the startup managed to change the entertainment industry with their innovative thinking, adopting futuristic technology, and developing algorithms.

In 1997 when Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph founded Netflix , no one ever imagined that by 2020 it would register an annual revenue worth $24.99 billion. The US-based startup became one of the biggest TV and movie studios globally in just 24 years, with more subscribers than all the US cable TV channels. Let’s turn back the pages; in 1997, Netflix was a DVD rental firm competing with the neighborhood video rental stores.

Let’s look at:

  • Why did Netflix build its business around a single growth metric that its competitors overlooked?
  • How Netflix slowly built upon its DVD rental business to launch its online streaming service?
  • How the concept of producing its content became a success for customer acquisition and growth for Netflix?

We’re going to analyze how Netflix’s growth has been driven by developments in how, when, and where we consume entertainment and the challenges that are susceptible to sink Netflix, and where the startup could go in the coming years.

So without any delay, hold a cup of coffee, sit back at your place and read till the end. We are sure you will get complete knowledge about Netflix, the platform you love. Reed Hastings finally decided to start a Netflix after returning a copy of Apollo 13 to his local Blockbuster (a global chain of video stores where customers could go and rent videos in-store). Upon returning to the movie, Hastings was told that he has to pay $40 in late fees . He gets scared and thinks about what he will get to tell his wife? He begins to consider the other better way to rent movies; Reed began to devise what would later become Netflix.

The Preliminary Business Model of Netflix

When software engineers Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph founded Netflix in 1997, that time video rental stores dominated the home entertainment market. People like to watch movies at that time, but Reed Hastings observed and thinks ‘how can we make it more convenient?’ From this thought, the seed of Netflix was already in the making, but things were not easy for him to initially change the audiences’ mindset; he did not change the whole procedure. He decided to do rentals in a whole new manner, and Netflix began renting out DVDs by mail in April 1998, and that turned out to be a game-changer in the video-renting market. At that time, VHS dominated the market, and only 2% of the American households owned a DVD player. And by that time, Reed and Rudolph knew if they captured the market by 20 percent of the household, it would be a victory for them.

Netflix’s secret weapon wasn’t luck, but they tried to keep analyzing their market. Hastings and Randolph may have built their initial business around DVDs, but they knew they would not stick into the DVD business forever, even if no one else did.

Hasting never wanted to settle down in the DVD renting business; he saw the opportunity to use the internet to decentralize entertainment and give users a new viewing experience with the best in sound and video quality.

DVD rentals were never Netflix’s target – they were on a way for the new company to achieve a tentative foothold in an intensely competitive market.

Now, let’s capture the moments from years to years, and you will get to know how Netflix moved in these 24 years, starting from scratch to becoming the undisputed king of the streaming platform.

1997: Netflix launches with a video library, with a full 7-day rental policy. By March 1999, Netflix’s video library expanded to 3,100 titles. Rentals initially cost 50 cents each. By February 2000, Netflix’s catalog reached up to 5,200 titles.

1999: Netflix announces its first new subscription model, introduced at an initial price point of $15.95. The subscription plan allows Netflix subscribers can rent up to four movies at a time, with no return-by dates.

2000: Netflix forsakes late fees and return-by dates in favor of a monthly subscription plan priced at $19.94 per month.

2002: Netflix files its initial public offering (IPO) on May 22. Shares in the company are initially valued at $15.

2000-2003: Netflix observed a consistent growth. However, despite increases in both revenue and subscribers, Netflix was still suffering from loss. The company reports a loss of $4.5M in Q1 of 2002 alone . The loss was the result of an increase in operational expenses over costs reported in 2001.

2003-2006: This was when the company planned to refine the subscribers’ experience by providing additional suggestions and recommendations using the Cinematch algorithm, which helped to personalize your choices and suggestions. The algorithm learns what category movies you like, and according to your preferences and views, it creates suggestions.

By the end of 2007, Netflix had more than 6.3M subscribers —and finally, the company came into a state where their business was profitable, generating more than $80M in profits in 2007. The company achieved outstanding growth by challenging market players with a highly researched innovative business model the world has never seen before.

Cable TV channels generally calculate their audiences based on viewership or how many viewers a TV show has? Whereas Netflix comes from the opposite direction by focusing on how many movies (or shows) a viewer has watched. 

This subtle yet crucial distinction has permitted Netflix to stay focused on better engaging viewers on its core “movies watched” metric through key product initiatives such as its CineMatch recommendation algorithm.

While many analysts raised the feasibility of Netflix’s subscription-based model in 1999, this was key to its success. It positioned Netflix as a service where you can watch the end number of shows and movies. This was one of the real innovations behind much of Netflix’s early growth.

The price which Netflix charges from its subscribers is not high when we see the more incredible offers and services we get from the company. Netflix services are a win-win situation for subscribers because it gives them authority to keep rentals as long as they like with no late fees. It also helped the company further to differentiate itself from the Hollywood and Blockbusters Videos while maximizing revenue.

By today’s standards, the CineMatch algorithm is not exactly what it was 20 years back. At that time, CineMatch was surprisingly accurate. The algorithm analyzed three primary factors to make its recommendations—Netflix’s catalog of movies, the ratings that subscribers had given to movies they had watched, and the combined ratings of specific titles based on all Netflix subscribers’ ratings.

 “Our strategy for achieving online movie rental leadership is to continue to grow our DVD subscription business aggressively and to transition these subscribers to Internet video delivery as part of their Netflix subscription offering.” – Reed Hastings.

Netflix knew that their planning and strategies were working. They found the new idea to target most of the audience. They expanded the DVD rental business before transitioning them directly to online streaming services. While its competitors were focused on short-term goals, Netflix was clear on what they need to do in the next four to ten years. 

2007-2012: Streaming Video Hits the Mainstream, DVD Goes out of Fashion

“We named our company Netflix in 1998 because we believed Internet-based movie rental represented the future, first as a means of improving service and selection, and then as a means of movie delivery.” – Reed Hastings

The year 2007 was the changing year for Netflix. Although Netflix’s DVD business was increasing, Netflix was thinking about the future. In contrast, other companies were struggling with their DVD business. Still, Netflix decided to transform its business by launching the first streaming product, Watch Now.

Subscribers’ demand for streaming video practically did not exist. Initially, it fell miserably because, at that time, the internet speed was not great; even the fastest broadband connections can not handle the high-resolution video, which means the overall quality of the video was more flawed than the DVD.

When Netflix launched its first streaming product, ‘Watch Now’ was only supported with Windows and would only work in Internet Explorer after users downloaded an applet to make the video player work.

Although many people thought Netflix’s decision to stream movies over the internet was a foolish decision because firstly, the net connection was slow, secondly the cost of connection was much higher, last but not least, there were limited shows and movies. So combining all these, we can say in 2007, the world was not ready to adopt the new streaming services. But it was a well-logical move from Netflix and a step towards the change of the entertainment industry.

Also Read: 4 Most Disruptive Startups of All Time

By 2008-09, interest in DVD as a home entertainment format was beginning to slow down. After two years of outstanding sales, the DVD market shrank by 4.5% in 2008, the first time since the format was introduced in 1997. Even though Netflix’s DVD rental business was growing like a mushroom and generating high revenue, Hastings and his team knew it wouldn’t last long. They had to secure and make the company future proof, so Netflix went all-in on streaming video.

This was the actual risk for Netflix. Even though its core business (DVD) was growing and performing strongly, Hastings decided to invest in future technologies and invested in building a streaming product.

However, because hardly anybody thought it would get success, even fewer companies actively pursued it. By the time everybody else caught on, Netflix had the best latest streaming technology, the most extensive library of titles, and an enormous subscriber base.

2007: Netflix introduces its first online streaming service, ‘Watch Now.’ The service launches with 1K titles and is included free in Netflix’s $5.99 per month physical DVD subscription tier.

2008: During this year, Netflix announces it will stop the business of DVD retail sales. The announcement comes less than a month after Netflix announces its partnership with premium American cable TV network Starz , which boosts Netflix subscribers and access to more than 2,500+ movies and many TV shows.

2011: In 2011, Netflix decided to review their previous decision. The company announces the rebranding of its DVD rental business, which is known as Qwikster. The company planned to separate its streaming business and its DVD rental business. However, Netflix finishes the year 2011 on a high note. Between the launch of Watch Now in 2007 and the end of 2011, Netflix maximized subscribers’ count from 6 million to 23 million+, increasing 283% in just four years.

Watch Now’s launch was a great example of Reed Hastings’; it was the true vision for what Netflix made for. At the time of Watch Now’s launch in 2007, the startup was in trouble and the company was in a position to sink. Analysts and investors show their concern, and Netflix’s new platform underwhelmed audiences. Some founders might have backtracked, but Hastings shows the faith with his streaming plans, even when it seemed like he was betting on a losing horse.

Part of what made Netflix’s transition to streaming so outstanding was that few other people saw the value in pursuing streaming video. There wasn’t enough consumer demand to justify the costs of developing new streaming technologies. With low perceived value, Netflix developed and innovated with its Watch Now service with relatively little competition.

2013 – Present: Netflix Conquers the World of Entertainment

The period from 2007-2013 may have been the most unrestrained in Netflix’s history, but from 2013 onward, Netflix continued to challenge expectations and reinvent the entertainment business. The first step? Reinventing itself as a TV and movie studio.

2013 saw Netflix dive headfirst into the world of original programming with its high-profile political drama, House of Cards. The show, which received excellent reviews from critics and users, marked a crucial turning point in Netflix’s growth as a brand. Netflix had finally begun to realize its ambitions of being the platform for original content, distributed via Netflix’s proprietary platform.

Netflix had grown enormously before 2013, but sooner the company recognized that its growth was limited to a single dimension: subscribers. By December 2013, Netflix had more than 44M+ subscribers , an increase of approximately 33% from 2012, with total revenues of $4.3 billion, up 21% from 2012’s figures. 

From 2016 onward, Netflix seemed practically unstoppable. The company’s programming received numerous awards, including 54 nominations at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards. Netflix’s feature films became increasingly ambitious and attracted Hollywood’s most prominent screenwriters, directors, and actors. Then, in 2017, Netflix achieved what seemed impossible, the number of Netflix subscribers shattered the total number of cable subscribers in the United States.

Netflix had become the largest entertainment provider services globally and showed no signs of slowing down.

2013: Netflix debuts the political drama ‘House of Cards’, its first high-profile original production. However, Netflix does not release viewership data for any of its titles; Nielsen assumed that House of Cards routinely attracts audiences comparable to those of major cable network TV shows .

2015: Netflix releases its first feature film, ‘Beasts of No Nation.’ The film, which had a budget of $6M and depicted the horrors of war from a child soldier’s perspective in an unnamed African country, was released on Netflix’s streaming service and in a limited theatrical release in the U.S simultaneously—another first for Netflix. Shortly after Beasts of No Nation was released, the film was boycotted by four major American cinema chains, which claimed Netflix’s streaming release violated the traditional 90-day window of exclusivity enjoyed by cinemas.

2016: Netflix goes live in 130+ countries worldwide simultaneously. In a single step, Netflix transitions from an American company to a global brand. Netflix gains more than 7M+ new subscribers in Q4 of 2016 as a result. Later, Netflix received record-breaking 54 nominations at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards for its original programming. 

2017: In 2017, the number of Netflix subscribers surpasses the total number of cable TV subscribers in the United States.

To find new subscribers in overseas markets, Netflix established agreements with cable network operators in every regional market.  Netflix gained millions of new subscribers in overseas markets almost instantly with no need for international advertising campaigns, and cellular providers gained a competitive advantage over domestic competitors by hustling Netflix into their plans. 

Netflix’s international expansion approach is another brilliant example of how the company focuses on the goal and how they achieved it. It doesn’t matter how much success you get; Netflix shows to other companies that don’t distract yourself from your aim and don’t think much about success or failure.

Netflix muscled its way in.

What is the Future of Netflix and Where it Can Go from Here?

Competition from rivals including Amazon Prime and Disney Hotstar will likely intensify in the coming years, but Netflix still has plenty of options:

1. Augmented and Virtual (AR & VR) reality content

To be true at this moment, it is not possible to predict the future of home entertainment. And by extension, the future of Netflix, AR, and VR will play a crucial role in the future of Netflix.

Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings has been vocally skeptical about AR and VR in the past. Hastings believes that VR is particularly unsuitable for TV and film because binge-watching is a lot more difficult due to sensations that make VR so immersive. (If you’ve ever used a VR headset, you know what he is talking about.)

“We’re experimenting with things, we’re looking at things, but we have no concrete plans. It’s a very early phase, so we’re gonna learn some things with no commitment other than to have the Netflix TV shows and movies be available within the headsets.” – Reed Hastings.

2. Superior shows, driven by data

Netflix uses the data it knows about us to optimize, which shows we are shown in our discovery queues. Although, with so much data at its disposal, Netflix is uniquely positioned to produce significantly better programming using this same data.

Netflix isn’t equipped to get people to watch more shows or movies but to make better shows. A more data-centric approach to TV production could be one area of growth we may see as audiences’ competition intensifies in the coming years.

Important Lessons Every Startup Should Learn from Netflix

It’s been an interesting ride for Netflix for over 24 years. What can we learn from the company’s journey?

1. Identify the one metric that can grow with your business

It’s no secret, and we all know that most new businesses fail. Some companies don’t make it because they cannot handle too many risks, but just as many fail because they don’t aim high enough.

It’s crucial to identify a potential market that you can grow into in your business’s early days. Google may be one of the world’s biggest technology companies, but it still cares about how many searches are led every month. Facebook may have 2.5 billion users, but it has always cared about how active those users are and how it can maximize those active users’ engagement. In short, what we mean to say is never relax; always target what you have aimed for.

2. Palpable moves aren’t necessarily dumb moves

Just because the audience expects your business to do something doesn’t mean it’s the wrong thing to do.

Not every idea has to reinvent the wheel. The best decisions are the ones that help your business to flourish, not the ones that only keep your competitors on their toes. 

However, that’s not to say that the best moves are always obvious. In Netflix’s case, the decision to start streaming video through the internet was the bold decision ever made by a company. But at the time, Hastings’ decision cast doubt on both his leadership and the company’s future. Suppose Hastings had listened to the Naysayers (a person who criticized) who thought streaming was nothing more than a fad. Where would Netflix be today?

3. Focus relentlessly on quality

Netflix has always focused on doing something extraordinary with future technology, whether providing a DVD rental business or developing new streaming technologies. 

This dedication to quality – whether it be the quality of the Netflix experience or the quality of its content – is what has helped Netflix cultivate not only a vast subscriber base but a loyal audience of fans.

Although there are exceptions, it’s generally safe to assume that the higher the quality of your product or service, the higher your costs will be. However, depending on how competitive your vertical is, the question may not be whether you can afford to make a higher-quality product but whether you can afford not to.

karan

Born in the family of entrepreneurs and have inherited the same. Started building applications in order to pay for my tuition. Later founded a tech company, marketing agency , and media outlets.

About the author

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Netflix's Evolution: from Dvds to Streaming Dominance Essay

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Essay Samples on Netflix

Netflix has revolutionized the entertainment industry by providing a streaming service that allows viewers to watch their favorite shows and movies from anywhere at any time. With its extensive library of content, it is no wonder that students are turning to Netflix for inspiration when writing their college essays.

A college essay about Netflix can take many forms. Some students may choose to write about how the streaming service has changed the way they consume media and its impact on their daily lives. Others may explore the role of binge-watching and how it has affected their productivity and study habits.

In an essay about Netflix, you can also delve into the cultural significance of the platform. You can analyze how it has changed the way we consume media and its impact on the entertainment industry. Additionally, you can explore how Netflix has created a platform for underrepresented voices, including people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and women.

When writing an essay on Netflix, it is essential to choose a specific angle or theme. You can focus on a particular show or movie that has had a significant impact on you or explore the history of the company and its business model. You can also discuss how Netflix has navigated controversies, such as the removal of certain shows or movies or its portrayal of certain communities.

In conclusion, a college essay about Netflix can be a unique and engaging topic that allows students to showcase their analytical and creative skills. By selecting a specific angle or theme and conducting thorough research, students can craft a compelling essay that captures the cultural significance of this iconic streaming service. You can check out this section on WritingBros to find your perfect Netflix essay.

Netflix as Fee-Based Streaming Service

Netflix, an American service provider, established in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, headquarters at Los Gatos, California. Netflix is one of the pioneers in spilling and now brags of its own slate of acclaimed unique substance. It has got one of the biggest...

  • Service Marketing

Life and Career of Lori Petty, a Star of the TV Series Orange Is The New Black

Many people in entertainment joined the industry as a result of having one family member or the other in showbiz, but the likes of Lori Petty made a success out of an acting career without any previous connection to the world of entertainment. The records...

  • Orange Is The New Black

Overview Of Global Disruptive Technologies

Could there be a better example of a disruptive technology, much less a company that is generally regarded as disruptive, than Amazon and its Kindle? For just about as long as books have been in print, in order for authors to get their written work...

  • Modern Technology

The Factors Of Consumers’ Preferences To Streamable TV Vs Using Cable Companies

In what is really becoming a competitive time of cord cutting and cord shaving. I thought I would delve into the market of cable television. For many years now, we have been at the mercy of Cable Companies when it came to watching the live...

  • Consumer Behavior

Comparison Of Apple Inc, Amazon Inc, And Netflix Inc

Apple’s competition varies depending on the product that is being compared. Apple has such a variety of products ranging from smartphones, watches, tv packages, desktops, laptops, tablets, their iPods and a plethora more, they have stiff competition along every product sold. Although their market cap...

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Netflix In The Borderline Between The Internet And Storytelling

Today all of us can observe the changes made with the help of the internet and especially an impact that it has on the storytelling. With the appearance of internet TV it has got possible to make own decisions concerning consumed content. We can decide...

  • Digital Era

Female Stereotypes In Contemporary Western Society In Good Girls Series

Television network Netflix Original crime-comedy-drama series, Good Girls, is a show full of life lessons and hidden meanings. Most present-day shows are saturated with themes of alcohol, drugs, and violence; Good Girls is no exception. However, Good Girls focuses more on the woman’s point of...

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Sacred Games And Black Mirror: Crafted Dark Stories Opening Doors To Reality

The age of cliffhangers rewrites the style of stories being told “Kabhi kabhi lagta hai apun hi Bhagwan hai!” If this line rings a bell in your head, then you too, are probably among the majority whose minds that got influenced by Sacred Games. The...

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5. Comparison Of Apple Inc, Amazon Inc, And Netflix Inc

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Netflix Analysis Essays

Netflix is a company that revolutionized the watching of movies and television shows. Here is a brief history of Netflix. Established in 1997 in California, Netflix differentiate itself by providing online DVD rental service, while other competitors were mostly in store rental service. Over 100 distribution centres across the country allows 95% customers to receive DVD within one business day (Anon., n.d.). Ten years later, Netflix introduced online streaming service, which allows members to instantly watch television shows and movies on their personal computers. The movie and television library, and recommendation system make accurate suggestion movie to customers (Anon., n.d.). When Netflix is available on Apple iPad, iPhone and other mobile devices, it has attracted millions of subscribers. The convenience of access and relatively low price brought Netflix dominated position in the market. Since 2010, Netflix has focused on international expansion to increase revenue. Five Forces Analysis Powers of buyers: low. Other companies don’t have such recommendation system and service compared to Netflix, and also their monthly fees are higher. For buyers, switch cost is high. Power of suppliers: high. Netflix buy movies from movie studios like Hollywood movie distributors, there is few substitute. (McLeod, 2015) Threat of substitute: high. There are so many ways of entertainment besides online video service, such as reading and video games. Threat of new entrants: low. It costs a significant capital to enter VOD industry and potential entrants cannot form economies of scale immediately, so there is obvious barrier to entry. (McLeod, 2015) Rivalry among existing competitors: high. There are so many cable and satellite companies which provide VOD service that Netflix is engaged in price war competition in recent years. SWOT Analysis Strengths: Netflix required to innovated new technology to complete against competitors who could also cut down the price. For example, Netflix emphasized on customers’ Show More

Related Documents: Netflix Analysis Essays

Analysis of netflix.

BUS510 Management of Information Technology Winter Term 2013 Individual Paper The Analysis of Netflix Yi Xie Prepared for: Dr. Y.K.Mortagy ‘Ben’ March 1, 2013 Content Introduction………………………………………………………….......................2 Background Information…………………………………...................................2 Services…………………………………………………….................................2 Porter’s 5 Forces Model Analysis ………………………………….........................3 Rivalry among Existing Firms……………………………………

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essay introduction about netflix

Swot Analysis Of Netflix

computers. They are one of the pioneers in the content streaming business and has moved to content and entertainment generation along with distribution. The company operates on cutting edge technology and the employees are primarily ( ~60% ) engineers. Netflix introduced their new organizational culture by early 2011 which is based on the concept of freedom and responsibility. The company operates without much written policies and processes. Every employee is expected to perform based on their extreme depth…

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essay introduction about netflix

Netflix Case Analysis Essay

earliest time is unappealing for this personality type. In an attempt to remedy this problem we recommend that Netflix partner with various entertainment studios to acquire the licensing needed to release their movies online the same time the DVD versions are released. This is going to be costly and Netflix will have to decide whether to absorb the cost or pass it onto the customer. If Netflix decides to pass that cost onto the subscribers then it is our recommendation that they do on an as needed basis…

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Netflix Strategic Analysis Essay

Netflix | Strategic Analysis (Nov 2007) | | Netflix, the online subscription-based DVD rental service aimed to better satisfy customer in a way competitors didn’t, customized and personalized service with unlimited monthly rentals from a great variety of film offerings. Now they want to leverage their strengths to enter into the Video on Demand market | | | 9/18/2009 | | 1 1 3 3 6 7 Table of Contents 1. Netflix Strategic Analysis 2. Netflix vs. Blockbuster: Comparative…

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Netflix Liquidity Ratio Analysis Paper

organization is getting along. Netflix gives money related data to its speculators and shareholders as a traded on an open market firm. The proportions in the accompanying areas will furnish the potential financial specialist with data in respect to regardless of whether they would put resources into the organization under ordinary conditions. The productivity proportions mean the achievement of operations for a timeframe. The profit per offer created by salary per offer of stock. Netflix earned $0.63 per offer…

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Global Marketing Assignment Essay

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How Does Sebastian Wernicke Use Data Analysis

Data analysis is the inspecting of data with the intent to gain information, make decisions, and solve problems. This information is collected by anyone who desires it, the government, businesses, or statisticians. In the video, Sebastian Wernicke, discusses how two companies use data analysis for the same goal but obtain different results. Data analysis is a tool and ought to be used with skill and statistical understanding to maximize its use. The video is focused on the use of data analysis and…

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Netflix Crtical Paper

A'lena Scurry Netflix Critical Analysis Paper 4/4/2013 Introduction Even though Netflix’s revenue is steadily increasing, its net profit has been decreasing. Netflix’s net profit dropped about 88% in its third-quarter last year. Netflix had suffered a huge amount of decrease in its U.S. profits due to the high expense costs for overseas. According to Bensinger, “it expected overseas markets to report as much as $ 119 million loss.” In addition, Netflix’s earnings per share have been…

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Zhe Xu S Case Analysis Essay

months of 2011, Netflix was in a rapid growth, the subscribers and stock price was doubled from before. However, after Netflix changed the strategy, the company’s stock price into a tailspin, and subscribers reaction was negatively, about 600,000 customers had canceled their subscriptions. Then the negotiation with Starz had broken down, and the licensing expired in March 2012, that was exacerbated the company’s stock price continue going down and a loss for the whole year. Analysis 1- Competitive…

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Blockbuster Case Analysis Essay

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  • Netflix Essays

Netflix Essays (Examples)

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Netflix'strategy and competitive environment.

Introduction Netflix is a media distribution company. It started with DVD distribution via mail, but has evolved substantially over the course of its existence. Today, Netflix is focused on streaming video. Some of its content is licensed, and some of the content is produced in-house. Netflix originally focused on movies, but today television shows are probably the more common format. Netflix works on a subscription model, where users get unlimited access to content with a paid subscription. This paper will analyze the corporate and business-level strategies behind Netflix as the company exists today, and the state of the competitive market in which the company exists. Business-Level Strategy According to the textbook, business level strategy is an approach that a company uses to exploit core competencies to gain competitive advantage. There are several types of business-level strategies that a company can adopt: cost leadership, differentiation, focused cost leadership and focused differentiation. Netflix utilizes the….

Netflix Strategy and Market

NETFLIXNetflix: Questions and Answers1. How strong are competitive forces confronting Netflix in the market for subscription video on demand? Do a five-forces analysis to support your answerTo a large extent, Porters five forces come in handy in efforts to not only assess, but also evaluate a business entitys competitive position and strength (Isami, Mustafa, and Latkovikj, 2020). For this reason, they could successfully be deployed in the case of Netflix to assess the strength of the competitive forces that Netflix is confronted by.To begin with, when it comes to threat of new entrants, the market that Netflix operates in happens to be largely profitable. This essentially means that it is likely to attract other players keen on claiming a piece of the pie. It would, however, be important to note that barriers to entry in this case happen to be rather significant in terms of the range of content that….

Hadida, A.L., Lampel, J., Walls, W.D. & Joshi, A. (2021). Hollywood studio filmmaking in the age of Netflix: a tale of two institutional logics. Journal of Cultural Economics, 45, 213-238.

Isami, X., Mustafa, N. & Latkovikj, M.T. (2020). Linking Porter’s generic strategies to firm performance. Future Business Journal, 6(3), 47-53.

Netflix (2020). Form 10k.  https://s22.q4cdn.com/959853165/files/doc_financials/2020/ar/8f311d9b-787d-45db-a6ea-38335ede9d47.pdf 

Wayne, M.L. (2017). Netflix, Amazon, and Branded Television Content in Subscription Video On-Demand Portals. Media Culture & Society, 40(5), 79-85.

Netflix and Machine Learning

Netflix and Machine Learning Machine Learning (ML) represents a data analysis technique involving automation of analytical model development. This segment of AI (artificial intelligence) is grounded in the notion that a system is able to learn using information provided, discern patterns, and engage in decision-making without much human involvement required. Owing to technological advancements in computing, contemporary ML differs from ML of earlier times. The concept traces its roots to pattern identification as well as the assumption that a computer is capable of learning how to carry out particular activities without the need to be programmed. Scholars with an interest in the field of AI desired to look into whether or not computers are able to learn from provided data. ML’s iterative element is vital due to the fact that, with exposure to novel data, models can adjust independently. They learn via prior computations to make consistent decisions and generate consistent outcomes.….

Netflix Business Environment

Netflix External and Internal Environments Netflix is a video rental store that was founded in 1997 in Scotts Valley, California by Reed Hasting and Marc Randolph. The corporation’s business model is centered on mailing DVDs to its customers as well as providing online rental of videos. For its mailing services, Netflix uses its 35 warehouses across the United States. Since its inception, the company has continued to leverage on technology to improve its services and offerings to customers. This has contributed to its increased success and profitability over the years despite the changing conditions in its market. A critical component that has contributed to Netflix’s success and profitability over the years is an understanding of its external and internal environment. This paper examines Netflix’s external and internal environments with regards to its general business environment, five forces model of competition, external threats and opportunities, strengths and weaknesses, resources, capabilities and competencies,….

Organizational Changes by Netflix Explained by Evolutionary Logic

NETFLIX Organizational changes by Netflix explained by evolutionary logic Netflix: Organizational changes The media climate is changing rapidly, particularly the ways in which people consume media. Netflix is attempting to change with the times. One of its most recent alterations to its policy has been its separation into two business units, with two distinct components. Its "physical disc mailings from Internet video, DVD-only subscriptions start at $7.99 per month, the same price as a streaming-only plan. But a monthly plan that combines physical DVDs with Web streaming costs almost $16 -- a 60% price increase" (Milian 2011). Customers were outraged at the prospect of having to choose between the two types of media or seeing their fees doubled. More and more consumers are using the online format to watch movies and TV. However, "streaming program's convenience and ubiquity is sometimes overshadowed by its dearth of quality movies available for streaming, relative to those contained….

Gross, Doug. (2011). Customers fume over Netflix changes. CNN. Retrieved:

 http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/20/tech/web/netflix-reaction/index.html 

Milian, Mark. (2011). Netflix customers see red after price break. CNN. Retrieved:

 http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/07/13/netflix.pricing.protests/index.html?iref=allsearch

Costs at Netflix

Accounting Netflix Costs Netflix is a well-known media company. The firm makes media content available to customers based on a monthly subscription fee. The main area of the business is the internet television network, with the company streaming media content such as television programs and films, to more than 44 million subscribers across more than 40 counties (Netflix, 2013). In addition the firm also has a DVD rental segment, sending out DVD's by post. This model of operation places the firm in the service sector; the service offered being the media distribution. The firm is divided into three segments; the postal rental business in the U.S., the domestic internet streaming business in the U.S. And the international streaming business. The firm has an inventory; there is a physical inventory of the DVD that is sent out for the postal rental service. The digital content library is not a physical inventory, but they make….

Netflix, (2013), 10-k, accessed 18th May 2014 at  http://ir.netflix.com/ sec.cfm

Walther, L, M, (2012), Principles of Accounting, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Finance the Netflix Case Focuses

This indicates that the company's business model is starting to resonate with consumers. It is too early, however, to determine if Netflix is going to achieve its objectives. Achieving its goals will probably take a decade or more, and there will be many critical strategic decisions between here and there. Thus, while Netflix has had success to date, it is difficult to assess at the time of the IPO whether or not Netflix will be successful. Question 2. The objective of the subscriber model is to bring in new customers with a month of free service, and then convert the free customer into a paying customer after that one month. The subscription model makes it easier for McCarthy to estimate revenues. With customers generally all paying the same price, the number of customers and the amount of revenue are tied to each other -- one only needs to estimate the number….

Blockbuster Netflix Businesses Failed Succeeded While Blueprint

Blockbuster NetFlix businesses failed succeeded While blueprint checklist follow guarantee success a business When Netflix officially launched in the final years of the 20th century, Blockbuster was the undisputed king of movie rentals. The latter had operated since the early 1990s and was instrumental in supplying home entertainment to millions of people across the United States. Yet developments on the part of Netflix -- as well as those within the industry as a whole -- would singularly ensure the upstart's success while guaranteeing the latter's disaster due to organizational behavior on the part of both Blockbuster and Netflix. It would be difficult to prove that both Netflix and Blockbuster did not have the same objectives -- to deliver quality entertainment to people in the form of movies that they could enjoy from the comfort of their homes. The companies had different visions on how to best achieve this end: Blockbuster believed it….

Aliano, T. (2009). Major theories of organizational behavior. www.bizcovering.com. Retrieved from http://bizcovering.com/management/major-theories-of-organizational-behavior/

Dierking, D. (2011). The fall of Blockbuster: a lesson on keeping your business. The Sun's Financial Diary. Retrieved from  http://www.thesunsfinancialdiary.com/personal-finance/fall-blockbuster-lesson-keeping-business-model-current/

Accounting Netflix

Accounting The trend in Netflix's contribution margin ratio over the past three years is as follows. The costs are the COGS plus 30% of other expenses. The remaining 70% of expenses are assumed to be fixed. Netflix evenue Costs Contribution Contribution Margin The contribution margin for Netflix is therefore lower than it was a couple of years ago. The long-term trend is tough to determine, but it seems that Netflix saw its contribution margin take a hit in 2012, only to begin the process of building it back in 2013. Or alternately, this new level is basically a "new normal" level for the company, with the higher level from 2011 unlikely to be reached again for the foreseeable future. Either is possible without knowing the reason why the contribution margin declined so much in 2012. The breakeven point for Netflix given this is as follows: Breakeven Variable Costs Fixed Costs Breakeven evenue What this means is that the company's breakeven revenue point has….

Arrington, W. (n.d.). Target Costing. Retrieved from www.freequality.org/documents/Training/Target%20Costing.pptx

Feil, P., Yook, K., and Kim, I (2004, Spring). Japanese Target Costing: A Historical Perspective. International Journal of Strategic Cost Management. Retrieved from http://economiceducation.us/dotAsset/785833.pdf

MSN Moneycentral. (2014). Netflix. MSN Moneycentral. Retrieved May 31, 2014 from  http://investing.money.msn.com/investments/stock-income-statement/?symbol=NFLX 

Tsorakidis, N. (2009). Break-Even Analysis. Retrieved from  http://bookboon.com/en/business/finance/break-even-analysis-1

Zara and Netflix Case Studies

Zara has managed to stay on top as a result of following a recipe that most would find to be in disagreement with rules that companies typically adopt in order to increase their profits. One of the most important reasons why Zara has experienced significant success in recent years is the fact that its products can be compared with much more expensive products designed by the world's greatest fashion icons. When compared to Gap, it seems that the Spanish company matured during the last few years while the American firm adopted risky and downright absurd strategies in an attempt to keep its place on the market. The fact that Zara collected information directly from the masses and that it got its employees to play an active role during the process enabled it to design clothes that were, actually, in accordance with what people wanted. In contrast, Gap and a series of….

Is Netflix a good investment

Principles of Finance Netflix’s income statement showcases a company with rapidly growing revenues. In FY17, the company earned revenues of $11.7 billion, and this grew to $15.8 billion in 2018 and $20.1 billion in FY19. The company was only marginally profitable in 2016, but its profits have grown to nearly $1.9 billion in FY19. Again, this is strong growth, and would be viewed quite positively by investors. Indeed, the company’s earnings per share have grown from $1.25 to $4.13 over the past three years, a strongly positive trend. In some cases, rapid growth comes on the back of steep increases in infrastructure costs, but Netflix has also seen a sharp increase in profits, and this is reflected on the company’s balance sheet. Netflix has seen its cash position more than double in the past couple of years, and its stockholder equity has doubled, as a result of the sharp increase in the….

Looking at Equity Compensation at Netflix

Equity Compensation at Netflix State your study's hypothesis (include the clearly stated IV and DV)? The dependent variable is the effect or the variable that is being elucidated. On the other hand, the independent variable is the explanatory variable or causal variable. The determination as to whether the variables are dependent or independent is centered on the context. In this case, I will be testing the hypothesis that if the payment system being undertaken by Netflix is fair, the employees are more probable to report and assert that they are satisfied. If the employees consider the payments are not fair, they will more probably assert that they are dissatisfied. In this case, the compensation equity, deemed to be paid fairly, is considered to be the variable that influences the level of satisfaction of the employees. Therefore, in this case, the independent variable is the compensation equity. On the other hand, the dependent….

Johnson, G. (2015). Research Methods for Public Administrators: Third Edition. New York: Routledge.

Ghazanfar, F., Chuanmin, S., Khan, M. M., & Bashir, M. (2011). A study of relationship between satisfaction with compensation and work motivation. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(1), 120-131.

Netflix Analysis Industry Drivers the Intent of

Netflix Analysis Industry Drivers The intent of this analysis is to discuss the key industry drivers that are creating opportunities and threats for Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), in addition to defining the future of the mail-based and online movie rental subscription service. Competition from Video-On-Demand (VOD) services offered by cable television companies including Time Warner Cable, Comcast and others, combined with kiosk delivery network Redbox and the vertical integration of lockbuster are fundamentally reordering the industry today (Netflix Investor Relations, 2013). Competition continues to accelerate as each of these competitors invest in research & development (R&D) to increase the performance and reliability of their individual services. Of the myriad of economic factors that impact their business, Netflix senior management is most concerned and tracks through weekly reporting the level of consumer spending on entertainment in aggregate and for DVID, game and video rental specifically (Netflix Investor Relations, 2013). Additional external factors include time spent on….

Bibliography

MacCormack, A., Murray, F., & Wagner, E. (2013). Spurring innovation through competitions. MIT Sloan Management Review, 55 (1), 25-32.

Netflix Investor Relations (2013). Investor Relations. Retrieved November 14, 2013, from Netflix Investor Relations and Filings with the SEC Web site:  http://ir.netflix.com/ 

Papadimitriou, A., Symeonidis, P., & Manolopoulos, Y. (2012). A generalized taxonomy of explanations styles for traditional and social recommender systems. Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, 24(3), 555-583.

Pham, H.X., & Jung, J.J. (2013). Preference-based user rating correction process for interactive recommendation systems. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 65(1), 119-132.

Netflix Is the Leader in Renting Dvds

Netflix is the leader in renting DVDs to its customers. When the customer returns one DVD, another is issued. Netflix gained a remarkable success but, on the other, it is facing some of the problems nowadays. Netflix charge a monthly fee from its customers and it has an agreement with the film studios. Due to this agreement, it pays the studios a specific amount from its revenue and this amount is paid on per issue rather than on monthly basis. Since film studios are observing dynamic growth of Netflix, it is likely that they will increase their share rate on per issue and since Netflix charge its customers on monthly basis, it is likely that a decline in its revenue will occur. For this, it should make an agreement of monthly profit sharing with the studios. Due to increase in technology, people do not prefer to rent a DVD; therefore,….

Netflix the Red Ocean Industry That I

Netflix The red ocean industry that I decided to cover is video rentals and the company chosen is Netflix. The company has succeeded in overwhelming major competitor Blockbuster through differentiation, in this case the use of the Internet as a distribution mechanism rather than storefronts. According to Kim and Mauborgne (2010), the six paths framework seeks to uncover a new open space for the firm. The six paths are: "Looking across alternative industries instead of focusing on competing within an industry; looking across strategic groups within industries instead of a company confining itself to established strategic groups; looking across the chain of buyers instead of focusing on the same buyer group as the rest of the industry; looking across complementary products and services instead of a company limiting itself to the scope of an industry's products and services; looking across functional or emotional appeal to buyers instead of accepting an industry's functional….

Works Cited:

Dignan, L. (2011). Netflix's rough weekend: Sign of things to come. CNet. Retrieved October 29, 2011 from  http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20072648-93/netflixs-rough-weekend-sign-of-things-to-come/ 

Kim, W & Mauborgne, R. (2010). Six paths framework. Blue Ocean Strategy.com. Retrieved October 29, 2011 from  http://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/abo/Blue_Ocean_Strategy_Glossary_Lookup.php?Term=six-paths-framework 

Kim, W. & Mauborgne, R. (2010). 3 tiers of noncustomers. Blue Ocean Strategy.com. Retrieved October 29, 2011 from  http://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/abo/noncustomers.html 

Kim, W. & Mauborgne, R. (2010). 4 actions framework. Blue Ocean Strategy.com. Retreived October 29, 2011 from  http://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/abo/4_action.html

I need help writing an essay on CSR and how it helps environment, cultural arts and poverty

CSR, or corporate social responsibility , refers to the idea that companies should hold themselves accountable for how their policies and procedures impact the greater world at large.  CSR does not have a single definition, because it is tailored to each individual company and that company’s view of how they act in a responsible position.  CSR is self-regulating, insofar as it is not imposed by outside forces, at least in terms of being regulated; outside forces, such as client decisions to purchase products or services, competitor responses to corporate policies, or business partner....

How do I create a hook for an argumentative essay on the topic are zoos necessary

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This also allows their content to be viewed virtually anywhere. The fact that they teamed up with Oracle to work on their website was a very beneficial move as this gives them somewhat propitiatory technology. I personally enjoy their recommendations and it is obvious that with their next arrival that they have strong logistics. They have a big cost advantage too. If I can stream a whole season of How I Met Your Mother in one day, I feel as though the $8.99 that I spent was a good investment and yet I still have another 29 or 30 days to go. The two times that I had to deal with their customer service; they quality of service was outstanding and I’ve heard many other wonderful testimonials. When looking at weaknesses, I feel that their inability to provide new releases is a major drawback. In addition to this, they need to amp the selection for online streaming since streaming is expanding rapidly. The issue at hand with streaming is that it can potentially lead to server crashes if there are too many users on at once. Netflix can also be very enticing to hackers since there is so much personal information stored. I would say that the biggest opportunity for Netflix would to be to make deals with the movie production companies to allow Netflix to offer new releases. To feed off of that, they need to increase their variety; particularly in the selection of indie and international films. With as

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Also Netflix needs to prepare a better plan to recover old customers, gain new customers and make sure that the people who still have Netflix keep it. Establishing a bundle price for both online streaming and DVD rental will allow The Netflix Company to recover some market shares and remain the leading overall digital film company. The recommendations are as follows:

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Many of their competitors have longer operating histories, larger customer bases, greater brand recognition and significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources than Netflix does. Some of their competitors have adopted, and may continue to adopt, aggressive pricing policies and devote substantially more resources to marketing and Web site and systems development than Netflix does. The rapid growth of their online entertainment subscription business since their beginning may attract direct competition from larger companies with significantly greater financial resources and national brand recognition. For instance in 2003 the extremely wealthy Wal-Mart used their online site to launch an online DVD subscription service, Wal-Mart DVD Rentals. With increased competition reduced operating margins may result as well as a loss of market share and reduced revenues. In addition, our competitors may form or extend strategic alliances with studios and distributors that could adversely affect our ability to obtain titles on favorable terms.

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  • How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples

How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on February 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay . It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect.

The main goals of an introduction are to:

  • Catch your reader’s attention.
  • Give background on your topic.
  • Present your thesis statement —the central point of your essay.

This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

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Table of contents

Step 1: hook your reader, step 2: give background information, step 3: present your thesis statement, step 4: map your essay’s structure, step 5: check and revise, more examples of essay introductions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.

Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook.

Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

The hook should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you’re writing about and why it’s interesting. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact.

Examples: Writing a good hook

Take a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to improve them.

  • Braille was an extremely important invention.
  • The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly  why the topic is important.

  • The internet is defined as “a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities.”
  • The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education.

Avoid using a dictionary definition as your hook, especially if it’s an obvious term that everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about.

  • Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein is a famous book from the nineteenth century.
  • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement.

Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation.

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Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:

  • Historical, geographical, or social context
  • An outline of the debate you’re addressing
  • A summary of relevant theories or research about the topic
  • Definitions of key terms

The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument. Don’t give too much detail—you can mention points that you will return to later, but save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:

Now it’s time to narrow your focus and show exactly what you want to say about the topic. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument.

This is the most important part of your introduction. A  good thesis isn’t just a statement of fact, but a claim that requires evidence and explanation.

The goal is to clearly convey your own position in a debate or your central point about a topic.

Particularly in longer essays, it’s helpful to end the introduction by signposting what will be covered in each part. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take.

As you research and write, your argument might change focus or direction as you learn more.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to wait until later in the writing process before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very last thing you write.

When you’ve finished writing the essay body and conclusion , you should return to the introduction and check that it matches the content of the essay.

It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.

To polish your writing, you can use something like a paraphrasing tool .

You can use the checklist below to make sure your introduction does everything it’s supposed to.

Checklist: Essay introduction

My first sentence is engaging and relevant.

I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.

I have defined any important terms.

My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.

Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.

You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.

  • Argumentative
  • Literary analysis

This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the printing press) and states the main point the essay will explain (the effect of this invention on European society).

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

This introduction to a literary analysis essay , about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of modern science. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

  • An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
  • Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
  • A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

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13th Documentary by Ava DuVernay: Essay + Main Points

This “13th” documentary analysis explores the facts presented in the film as well as its cinematography. You will also find here a “13th” documentary summary.

  • Essay Introduction
  • Analysis of Purpose
  • Cinematography & Sound Effects
  • Personal Reaction & Conclusion
  • Main Points

13th Documentary Essay Introduction

In 2016, Netflix released 13th , a documentary film directed by Ava DuVernay. The documentary was intended to draw the public’s attention to the problem of modern ‘slavery’ in the United States, criminalization or incarceration of African Americans, and politicians’ reactions to these issues (Netflix, 2016). As a result, the documentary is interesting not only to African Americans who suffer from prejudice and discrimination but also to social activists. The purpose of this reaction paper is to discuss DuVernay’s position regarding the incarceration of African Americans in the context of modern realities and reflect on ideas presented in the film.

13th Documentary Analysis of Purpose

It is important to state that the purpose of DuVernay’s documentary is to present a new perspective from which it is possible to discuss the problem of imprisoning African Americans. DuVernay’s message is that the mass incarceration of blacks is a contemporary variant of slavery that is proclaimed according to the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Netflix, 2016). Thus, the Thirteenth Amendment states that ‘slavery’ is appropriate as a kind of punishment for some crime (Kruger, 2016). The outcomes of interpreting this idea are presented in the documentary: U.S. prisons are overcrowded; men of ethnicity represent more than 60% of all prisoners; most black prisoners work for benefits of for-profit companies (Netflix, 2016). From this point, the modern system of African Americans’ criminalization can be viewed as a new approach to promoting slavery in U.S. society. Thus, it is possible to agree with DuVernay’s claims as she provides a lot of evidence to support her provocative statements.

13th Documentary Summary

Even if viewers have no prior knowledge regarding the topic, they can focus on the necessary background while watching the documentary because DuVernay provides many historical details to support her discussion of the controversial subject of African Americans’ criminalization. The documentary was produced in the United States, and DuVernay interviewed many scholars and activists to discuss the problematic subject in detail. The key points emphasized in the documentary are that the mass incarceration has its origins in Jim Crow laws, it is supported by American presidents, including Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, and it is promoted by contemporary influential political figures, such as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump (Butler, 2016; Netflix, 2016). Furthermore, as it is stated by Michelle Alexander, Craig DeRoche, and Bryan Stevenson, modern corporations are focused on gaining revenues, and politicians’ initiatives help them realize profit goals (Smith, 2016). I should state that DuVernay’s position in this context is a position of a person who wants to demonstrate that modern American society still refers to prejudice, and the problem is not in political choices, but in the culture of slavery reflected even in the U.S. Constitution.

Documentary 13th: Cinematography and Sound Effects

The camera work and specific music used in the documentary also contribute to accentuating interviewees’ ideas. Thus, when different scholars and activists are presented as discussing the problem of black prisoners, they are depicted from different angles, and various sound effects are used to emphasize their words (Netflix, 2016). Moreover, different types of lighting and backgrounds are also utilized to accentuate different perspectives from which it is possible to discuss this problem. I can state that this approach allows for making the audience focused on interviewees’ statements.

13th Netflix Documentary: Personal Reaction and Conclusion

While analyzing DuVernay’s 13th , I should also focus on my reaction to this documentary. The most interesting section in the film is the description of historical roots for the development of a modern tendency when American prisons are overcrowded with black men. Moreover, the most striking part is when the interviewees begin to provide evidence to state that this problem is a result of a business and political game oriented to gaining more profits while applying the principle of slavery to modern reality. Thus, I have learned the background of the issue, and I am sure that this documentary will be interesting for each person who wants to examine the problem of overcrowded U.S. prisons and prejudice against African Americans from several provocative perspectives.

13th Documentary Main Points

We’ve also picked up a list of issues raised in this 13th Netflix documentary that will inspire you and help you find a topic to continue researching. You can dig into a detailed analysis of the movie and create exceptional reflection paper.

Butler, B. (2016). Ava DuVernay’s Netflix film ‘13th’ reveals how mass incarceration is an extension of slavery. The Washington Post . Web.

Kruger, P. (2016). Netflix’s ‘13th’ explores ‘modern slavery’ in incendiary new documentary. The Fortune . Web.

Netflix. (2016). 13th . Web.

Smith, N. M. (2016). The 13th: Inside Ava DuVernay’s Netflix prison documentary on racial inequality. The Guardian . Web.

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Netflix Netflix has become a normal form of relaxation for the average family in today’s world. Research has shown that 9 out of 10 families have some sort of cable and many of them happen to have Netflix. Reed Hasting started the company back in 1997, when he experienced an outrageous late fee after returning a movie from one of the video companies. He figured he could give people what they really desired from the comfort of their own home with less hassle. Since then Netflix became a…

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Netflix While there has been a recent increase in the number of people attending theaters to see first run movies, this has not affected the number of individuals and families in our society who have adopted Netflix as an accepted venue for entertainment. Research has shown that 9 out of 10 families have some form of cable and internet in their homes and many of them subscribe to Netflix. The idea behind Reed Hastings, starting the company in 1997 was triggered by the fact that he was faced…

Netflix Primary Industry

Parnell (2014) advises that it is often useful to analyze and organization in terms of a primary and secondary industries. The primary industry in which Netflix currently operates is the entertainment content delivery industry. The primary industry analysis should include close competitors within the primary industry (Parnell, 2014). Primary industry competitors of Netflix include Hulu, Amazon, and Crackle. All of these primary competitors distribute entertainment content to consumers online in…

Situation Analysis Of Netflix

Situation Analysis: Netflix is a global provider of streaming movies and TV series. It started as an American DVD-by-mail service in 1998, and began streaming in 2007. Netflix expanded with streaming in Canada in 2010 and now serves over 190 countries. Netflix’s first widely advertised original series was House of Cards, which debuted in 2013, and Netflix now produces hundreds of hours of original programming around the world. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in…

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Netflix Internal Environment Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS NETFLIX, INC. 1 Company Images Montage 1 INTRODUCTION 2 Purpose Statement 2 Company Profile: Netflix, Inc. 3 Industry Profile: Video Tape and Disc Rental 4 INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS 8 Resources 8 Capabilities 11 Core Competencies and Distinctive Competencies 14 Value Chain Analysis 17 Weighted Competitive Strength Assessment 30 SWOT Analysis 33 REFERENCES 34 APPENDIX 36 …

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Essay on Netflix

Essay – netflix.

Netflix Essay: Netflix is the global media streaming platform that has changed the form of consuming entertainment among people over last years. it offer wide range of different TV shows, movies, web series, documentaries, original programmes etc. on demand of audience which are available over the single platform. People just need their personalised screen and internet connection for watching multiple shows on Netflix. Even they can download shows to watch them later in any of their convenient time. Netflix has become widely popular in past years and is now available in 190 countries. People need their subscription package for covering all their favourite shows in a single platform.

Introducing business:

Netflix was first launched by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph as a DVD rental mail service in 1997. Customers could select DVDs of their choices and got them mailed in their homes. The media company became popular among public soon and in 2007 it introduced the streaming service for allowing customers to watch their on demand show in computers. In 2013, Netflix started producing original contents in its OTT platform which people can see only in this site. The business model is such that customers have to pay a monthly subscription plan for accessing unlimited shows of its library. Primary revenue of Netflix comes from customers’ subscription fees still it has additional income from DVD rentals, licensed agreements with studios and other networks.

Business strategy of Netflix:

Netflix’s primary strategy is to offer diverse range of shows and movie to broad level audience in different countries. Customers can choose their preferable shows from Netflix on demand and watch whenever they want. In busy life style, people do not need to wait for particular time to watch their favourite shows which has changed the entertainment part in life. Netflix licenses contents from various sources including studios and networks which produce shows and even with film producers and distributors. Netflix also produces their original contents in formats of TV shows, web series, movies and documentary films. The company has earned significant reputation in taking creative risks and producing an innovative approach towards streaming entertainment among wide audience.

Impact on entertainment industry:

There is no doubt that Netflix has created tremendous change in entertainment zone of our life. The image of being entertained is also changed over some last years through Netflix. The major success of the company has led a shift in the way entertaining contents are distributed and consumed by people. Traditional cable service and conventional satellite TV providers have experienced drastic decline in their business. People are more interested now in subscribing to streaming services in OTT platforms like Netflix. The success of Netflix’s original content producing has inspired other companies as well for investing to produce their own original contents. The way of producing and marketing contents of Netflix is also innovative. Its data driven approach is prepared to identify, follow and respond audience’s preferences quickly. Netflix’s marketing strategy is focused on developing buzz and creating excitement around original programming. Netflix often focuses on releasing all episodes and season at a single time for encouraging audience to binge-watching which lead to social media conversations for sharing multiple reviews.

Conclusion on Netflix Essay Writing:

Despite massive success, Netflix faced multiple controversies for generating contents over the years. One of the most significant controversies is the usage of data for developing contents. Critics have raised concerns over the effects on traditional movie theatres which people avoid nowadays for having streaming service in hand. Some movies are released in movies theatre and streaming platforms simultaneously which encourage people to opt for streaming service and movie theatres do not see enough revenues. Netflix has brought revolutionary change in media industry by changing the way of delivering and consuming entertainment contents. The ways of producing and marketing contents have also been changed for the strategy of Netflix. Despite facing controversies and difficulties Netflix has remained as a great challenge for other in the entertainment industry. It I expected that people will adopt Netflix at larger level in upcoming years and change their ways of consuming entertainment.

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‘Testament: The Story of Moses’ is one of Netflix’s top shows — and it features multiple rabbis

essay introduction about netflix

( JTA ) — Nearly every Easter and Passover season since 1973, Americans have tuned in to ABC to watch Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 sand-and-sandals epic “The Ten Commandments.”

This year, Netflix picked the season to premiere “Testament: The Story of Moses,” a docudrama retelling the Exodus with expert commentary from religious leaders across a variety of Jewish, Christian and Muslim denominations. The series — the company’s first foray into the growing faith-based movie marketplace — debuted as the No. 1 show on the streaming platform.

What edge does “Moses” have over the show it displaced from the top spot, the big-budget sci-fi drama “Three Body Problem”? Not great reviews, that’s for sure: The few takes on “Testament” have been negative , citing “ mediocre ” visual effects, biblical inaccuracies , and claims of empty attempts to anachronistically interpret Moses’s story as one of social justice .

But Rabbi Maurice Harris, one of the onscreen Jewish commentators and the author of “Moses: A Stranger Among Us,” said he understands the appeal.

“This is one of the better examples of this kind of Bible story brought to the big screen,” Harris told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “And I also think maybe it’s got enough that’s surprising in it for viewers coming from different backgrounds to sort of keep people engaged.”

Harris, a Reconstructionist rabbi based outside of Philadelphia, said he was initially approached for the project back in 2020 but did not hear back from the producers until 2022, at which point he wanted to ascertain the Turkish-American production company’s commitment to a religiously diverse perspective and a regionally accurate cast.

essay introduction about netflix

Rabbi Maurice Harris is one of multiple rabbis to appear in the docu-drama series “Testament: The Story of Moses.” (Netflix)

Ultimately, Harris joined three other rabbis — Menachem Posner, Rachel Adelman and Shlomo Einhorn — in commenting on the life of Moses, played by the Israeli actor Avi Azulay. He said he believed the diversity of the commentators, plus the centrality of Moses in all three Abrahamic religions, has helped propel the series to its success.

“Within 15 minutes, you’re confronted with the fact that you’re hearing from Muslims and Jews and Christians and from women and men,” Harris said. “And if you’re somebody who comes from a small-c highly conservative religious background that is sort of committed to interpreting the Bible very literally, you’re confronted with the fact that you’ve got some conservative and liberal members of these three traditions who are also responding. And my guess is that that’s probably helping expand the audience.”

Previous film and television adaptations of the story of Moses include DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments,” which starred Charlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Pharaoh; 1975’s “Moses the Lawgiver” starring Burt Lancaster and Anthony Quayle as Moses and Aaron; Mel Brooks’ 1981 portrayal of Moses in multiple comedy sketches in “History of the World: Part I”; and “Moses,” the 1995 miniseries starring Ben Kingsley as the titular biblical figure. The 1998 animated DreamWorks musical “The Prince of Egypt,” featuring songs performed by Israeli musician Ofra Haza, has become a cult favorite .

essay introduction about netflix

The biblical figure of Moses has been portrayed over the decades by Val Kilmer, Burt Lancaster, Ben Kingsley, Mel Brooks, Christian Bale, and Charlton Heston. (Images via YouTube, Getty, Wikimedia Commons. Design by Jackie Hajdenberg)

Ridley Scott’s 2014 epic “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” featured an all-star cast, including Christian Bale as Moses, Joel Edgerton as Pharaoh and Ben Kingsley as Nun, one of Moses’ assistants and the father of Joshua the spy, portrayed by Aaron Paul. (Despite its cast, director and hype, “Exodus: Gods and Kings” scored poorly among critics .)

The Netflix version uses an increasingly popular form of storytelling known as a hybrid documentary, in which dramatized scenes are interspersed with more traditional footage of experts and, in cases where Bible stories match or reflect the record, historical evidence. Over three episodes, the show depicts Moses’ rise as a leader of the Israelites in Egypt, his confrontation with Pharoah and, finally, the parting of the Red Sea as Moses leads his people from slavery to freedom.

Harris said he appreciated how the series made use of lesser-known, extra-biblical Jewish texts known as midrash, giving even a viewer like him with substantial knowledge of Moses’ story something new to think about.

The minor character of Serach bat Asher , for example, makes an appearance in the first episode. In the Torah, Serach is the daughter of Asher and granddaughter of Jacob and is never part of any narratives, but only listed in two censuses, in the book of Genesis and the book of Numbers, hundreds of years apart.

“For the ancient rabbis who were faithful to the belief that the Torah was completely dictated by God and has no mistakes in it, they had to make sense of this person who seemed to have this crazy long life — and they run with this,” Harris explained. “They develop this elaborate midrash about her being this woman who lives almost like an immortal figure, across these huge time spans of Jewish history.”

essay introduction about netflix

The Israelites prepare to cross the Red Sea in “Testament: The Story of Moses.” (Courtesy Netflix)

In “Testament,” Serach is also the keeper of God’s true name. To prove that Moses has truly been visited by God, he tells Serach the name as revealed to him, and the Hebrew people recognize Moses’s significance as their leader.

“I was surprised that they found a way to give a nod to this figure who, if you’re not immersed in learning about midrash, you just wouldn’t know about it all,” Harris said.

He added, “I don’t know whether what they’re weaving in is something from one of the other religious traditions, or whether it’s something that they took some creative license themselves, but I feel respect for the choices that they made.”

In addition to including multifaith voices and unsung stories, Harris appreciated the inclusion of comments by A ndy Lewter, a historian and bishop at Hollywood Full Gospel Baptist Cathedral who reflects on the similarities between slavery in the Bible and in the United States.

“The slave labor of Egypt was critical to the economy of the same,” Lewter, who is African American, says in “Testament.” “And so you say, ‘Let my people go,’ the natural question of Pharaoh and the entire Egyptian economy is, ‘Well, who’s going to do the work? Who’s going to shoulder this labor?’ Just like 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation raised the question of, ‘Well, if you let all the slaves go, who’s going to pick the cotton?’”

The first episode, which runs 81 minutes, also focuses heavily on the Hebrew midwives, and their efforts to conceal the birth and early life of Moses at a time when the Egyptians were killing the Hebrews’ first-born sons. In the series, Moses’s wet nurse in the Egyptian palace turns out to be his biological mother, Yocheved — an account also found in midrash .

“I love the fact that this story begins with this one nursing woman and her infant,” said Celene Ibrahim, a scholar of Islamic studies who has taught religious studies at Hebrew College and is also featured in “Testament.” “How likely in our conception do we think that a revolution is going to start with a nursing mother?”

Netflix so far has a small faith and spirituality film category, but when used as a search term, more options appear. The majority of those programs are heavily Christian, with the exception of a few Jewish titles. But programs like “Seinfeld,” Showtime’s comedy drama series “Shameless,” and Nickelodeon’s tween comedy series “Victorious” also appear in the search results for faith and spirituality.

Exactly what’s next for Netflix in faith-based programming is not clear, but it’s unlikely that the platform will produce content for Jewish audiences specifically. “Testament: The Story of Moses” has been streamed 13.5 million times in the first five days since its release — meaning that about as many people have watched it this week as there are Jews in the world

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David Letterman John Mulaney Interview on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction - Netflix Tudum

 John Mulaney and David Letterman in ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman’

.css-1ylq17j em,.css-1ylq17j i{font-variation-settings:'ital' 1;}.css-1ylq17j strong,.css-1ylq17j b{font-weight:700;} John Mulaney Will Be David Letterman’s ‘ Next Guest’ 

Three-time Emmy Award winner John Mulaney will join Letterman for a special upcoming episode of the Emmy-nominated  My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman later this month. Filmed at Mulaney’s high school in Chicago, the pair will discuss fatherhood, stand-up comedy, and addiction. 

John Mulaney and David Letterman in ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman’

Letterman’s previous interviews featured a number of notable guests over its four seasons, including former President Barack Obama, Volodymyr Zelenskyy , Jay-Z, Malala Yousafzai, and Billie Eilish.

John Mulaney and David Letterman in ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman’

The special stand-alone episode will premiere on Netflix on April 30. But in the meantime, you can watch a first look at Letterman and Mulaney’s conversation right here.

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