Subj : Roll the credits: Netflix is sending out its final DVD rental dis
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Fri Sep 29 2023 15:00:04

Roll the credits: Netflix is sending out its final DVD rental discs today

Date:
Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:37:40 +0000

Description:
This is how Netflix started, a long, long time back  a quarter of a century 
ago, in fact.

FULL STORY
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As of today, Netflix has officially axed the service whereby it posts 
physical discs of movies out for subscribers to watch. 

As you may recall, this was how Netflix began way back in 1998  as a 
DVD-by-mail service, long before streaming was ever an option for your movie 
(and TV show) viewing. 

But after a quarter of a century of posting out DVDs to customers  and some 
five billion discs mailed, as of 2019, and no doubt more since  the service 
is officially shuttered. While this comes as no surprise given that Netflix 
informed us this was happening earlier this year (in April), it's still a 
momentous day. 

The iconic DVD-bearing red envelopes are no more, then, with the final discs 
going out literally today (and subscriptions being automatically canceled). 
Viewers will have until October 27 to return their last batch of DVDs  but as 
weve previously reported, some subscribers will be able to keep that final 
disc delivery (which is a pretty cool parting gift). 

Going forward, though, these folks are going to have to stream content if 
they want to continue with Netflix (and may want to peruse our best Netflix 
shows and best Netflix movies guides to see whats out there, perhaps). 
Analysis: Discontinued discs did have their positives (Image credit: Netflix) 

Its certainly the end of an era, though its difficult to see DVDs delivered 
by post as anything but an archaic practice at this point. 

There are still some advantages, of sorts, to a DVD mailing service  like 
being able to access some of the more obscure films that arent covered by the 
best streaming services . 

Furthermore, for those who have poor internet connections, or just dont want 
to be subject to streaming hiccups like buffering  which happens to the best 
of us at times  DVDs offer a local option with a guaranteed quality level. 
(Assuming no bugbears like scratches on the physical discs, but in our 
experience as Lovefilm subscribers way back, that was pretty rare). 

So, the service isnt without some plus points, but the truth is that it just 
wasnt making financial sense for Netflix any longer. 

Oddly, though, the streaming giant had no desire to sell off its DVD-by-mail 
division, even though there was definite interest in buying it ( from DVD 
rental outfit Redbox ). Make of that what you will, but the red envelopes are 
now very definitely a thing of the past. You might also like Netflix's third 
most-watched movie this week is an old sci-fi film Check out the best VPNs to 
use with Netflix How to use Teleparty (or Netflix Party)



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/streaming/netflix/roll-the-credits-netflix-is-sendin
g-out-its-final-dvd-rental-discs-today


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