Netflix evolution from DVD rental to global streaming leader

Netflix, a leading global streaming provider, has grown significantly since its founding in 1997 as a DVD-by-mail service. After transitioning to video-on-demand in 2007, the company expanded its reach internationally, including into Germany in 2014.

By 2026, the company reported approximately 325 million subscribers. Netflix's business model evolved from a mail-order video rental service to a major producer of original content, a shift highlighted by the success of productions such as ‘House of Cards’.