Netflix: The Reasons Behind its Success | Rome Business School (2024)

The story of Netflix begins between 1997 and 1998, when the American company became a serious competitor of Blockbuster by offering customers a subscription that included a flat rental fee and the delivery of movies and video games for just over $8, without any time limit for the return of the films. In 2008, Netflix debuted its own website and offered the same formula: a small monthly subscription to provide streaming and on-demand content.

Netflix’s Business Model

Why is Netflix defeating free online streaming (and the illegal one too)? Simply because it adoptedthe right business model. Subscribers can watch what they want, when they want and on as many devices: TV, computer, tablet, smartphone, game console. They can stop watching and resume when they have time. Based on what they watch, subscribers receive personalized recommendations: In addition, users can activate up to five different profiles depending on their tastes and needs (think of a family with children). Moreover, and this is no small asset, Netflix also produces TV series and exclusive blockbusters, such as House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black, Narcos, and Daredevil.

With this business model, Netflix has set itself up to compete not only with other on demand streaming services (in Italy,for example;Sky online), but with all manner of popular leisure activities: so TV, movies, video games, radio, social media, sport. Quite a challenge for the company, according to data provided by the Canadian Sandvine study company, in North America,nearly 40% of online traffic is related to content streamed from Netflix. Not bad!

Netflix in Italy: The Social Platform Launch Campaign

On its launch in Italy, Netflix startedthe #CiaoNetflix hashtag, which immediately started trending onTwitter. The online streaming brand also reached thousands of followers with a few posts on Instagram. Through word of mouth on social networks, Netflix came to the attention of national newspapers such as La Repubblica and La Stampa, getting quite a bit of publicity without investing in expensive campaigns. Netflix therefore planned an excellent launch campaign that yielded very interesting results.

Netflix numbers in Italy and in the world

Netflix boasts extraordinary numbers: it has about 75 million subscribers in 190 countries, with 125 million hours of television programmes and films watched every day.

The rich catalogue available, the ability to watch what you want when you want and produce excellent TV series has guaranteed Netflix the success that we have mentioned in this article. 2015 was a golden year for Netflix.

And what about Italy? At the end of the month of January, Netflix had gained approximately 280 thousand sign ups, although only 110 thousand actually subscribed after the first free month. These numbers are not huge, but they are destined to grow when, in addition to early adopters, the other TV series, film and documentary fans will become convinced of the validity of this business model.

Netflix has had the merit of beating up a lot of interest around online streaming; so much so that even the competition has had to adapt and improve its offer.

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Netflix: The Reasons Behind its Success | Rome Business School (2024)

FAQs

Why did Netflix become so successful? ›

One of the reasons Netflix's engagement is so high is that it deploys numerous tools to coax a viewer to watch. And that's no small matter. There are more than 10,000 titles on Netflix and thousands more on other streaming services. Picking a show or movie is often tedious and frustrating.

What is the secret of Netflix's success? ›

Stacking its roster with exceptional performers maximizes Netflix's chance of success and also motivates, educates, and draws in even more talent. It's "the energy driver because everyone around you is amazing, you learn so much, you attract other amazing people," Hastings said.

What is the secret to their innovation success in Netflix? ›

Flexibility. The biggest advantage Netflix is giving to its customers that they can watch any content with convenience. They can watch content on-demand and on any screen they want. Netflix is making sure to give smooth experiences with personalized tastes.

What problem did Netflix solve? ›

Netflix founders Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph wanted to bring customer-centricity to the video rental market. At the time, renting videos was inconvenient and costly, with customers often plagued by expensive late fees. They created an entirely new way to watch movies and consume content.

What is Netflix most success? ›

Series
#TitleHours watched (millions)
1Squid Game1,650.45
2Stranger Things1,352.09
3Wednesday1,237.15
4Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story856.22
11 more rows

When did Netflix become successful? ›

With the popularity of the internet on the rise, Netflix began streaming its services in 2007. During that year, the number of Netflix subscribers jumped to 7.32 million from 6.15 million in 2006. Within three years, the company's focus moved from being a mail-order DVD company to an online streaming company.

What is Netflix's original strategy? ›

Original Content Investment: One of the cornerstones of Netflix's content strategy is its substantial investment in original programming. By producing exclusive content, Netflix not only distinguishes itself from competitors but also establishes itself as a premier destination for high-quality entertainment.

How did Netflix use innovation in its business strategy to gain and sustain competitive advantage? ›

Netflix's innovation strategy was designed to gain a competitive advantage by making Netflix's services widely accessible and offering an overall high-quality service. This was the strategic direction that Netflix took. The innovation process took time, it involved incremental and radical innovations.

What makes Netflix better than its competitors? ›

The success of Netflix provides a reference experience for TV media struggling to transform [6]. According to Netflix, such an amazing user growth rate, Mainly due to the huge investment in original content, “Netflix's biggest competitiveness comes from its massive amount of original content.

How can Netflix improve their strategy? ›

How Can Netflix Improve Their Marketing Strategy
  1. Personalize marketing messages. ...
  2. Focus on customer service. ...
  3. Offer promotional discounts. ...
  4. Reach out to their audience. ...
  5. Provide a website and app. ...
  6. Distribute videos and content to other media outlets. ...
  7. Develop a social media presence. ...
  8. Create engaging ads.

What is Netflix business problem? ›

The streaming pioneer has been reeling under strained consumer spending, rising costs of financing production and increased competition from Disney+ and Amazon Prime. It had pinned its hopes on the launch of the ad-supported tier, but analysts say they have not seen a burst of subscriptions.

Why is Netflix more successful than Blockbuster? ›

It is hard to overstate how much Blockbuster customers hated late fees, which could easily double or even trip the cost of the original rental, even if a movie was returned only a few days late. By eliminating fees, Netflix gained a concrete advantage it could use to attract customers.

How did Netflix survive? ›

Netflix, although unprofitable until the mid-2000s, survived the dot com bubble. The company offered DVDs via US Postal Service, and had put up their catalogue online. Relying on US Postal Service's delivery meant that Netflix could focus on their core offerings of a curated and personalised catalogue.

Why was Netflix successful over Blockbuster? ›

Finally, NetFlix improved on Blockbuster's lackluster service and outmoded pricing. Blockbuster charged $5 cost for each movie, and people especially hated the fees for late returns. So Hastings used a monthly subscription that allows unlimited rentals and no late fees.

How has Netflix grown over the years? ›

Netflix has seen a substantial increase in its subscriber base over the years. In the first quarter of 2011, Netflix had approximately 22.8 million streaming subscribers in the United States. By the fourth quarter of 2018, this number had surged to over 58 million, showcasing a significant growth pattern.

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