Why Are 2 Million People Still Getting Netflix DVDs?

Netflix's revenue surpassed $20 billion last year, mainly through its popular streaming service around the globe. However, some might be surprised to learn that movie rental and delivery by mail was never discontinued in the United States. In fact, two million users receive DVDs and Blu-ray discs, and judging by executives' statements, that mechanism will remain available for several more years.

With more than 180 million users, Netflix is seen by many as the titan to beat in streaming. The combination of original productions and documentaries has allowed it to gain enormous traction, as well as other "rescued" projects, if we may call them that (Black Mirror, Cobra Kai).

But streaming is not the only thing the company offers. In fact, among its options for the US territory, there is still the DVD rental service. And this is where we ask: who bothers to watch DVDs when streaming is at hand?

Why 2 Million People Still Rent DVDs

Two million people, to be precise. In 2018, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said he did not plan to get rid of the rental service, and that he imagined it "for another five years" easily.

The reasons are perfectly logical: first, DVD and Blu-ray consumers are "hardcore enthusiasts" of cinema who are not attracted to documentaries or series. They consider the streaming catalog inferior to the rental options, which are much broader and more complete. After all, there is always that rare movie that can only be obtained on disc.

The second reason is a matter of quality. Beyond the efforts Netflix has made to maintain a good balance between bandwidth and visual details, these users detect artifacts and compression errors without difficulty, and insist that some movies can only be seen in Blu-ray format.

Finally, the third element in this equation of rented movies is connectivity. Despite what authorities and corporations try to communicate, there are many regions of the United States that have disastrous internet access. Entire rural areas lack adequate infrastructure, and as if that were not enough, providers impose monthly data limits, which streaming consumes.

The latest report indicates that during 2019 Netflix earned $300 million from DVD and Blu-ray rentals, but its future seems sealed anyway, as it loses about half a million users each year, and the pandemic has left the postal service in chaos, complicating the delivery and return of discs. Even so, it is logical to think that Netflix will take it slow. The last time it tried to change the service was with the creation of Qwikster, and we already know how that ended...

Source: WIRED