Netflix is ending its DVD-by-mail service

Netflix is ​​ending its DVD mail service. (Which, yes, it still worked – for now.)

“After an incredible 25-year run, we’ve decided to wind down DVD.com later this year,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote. “Our goal has always been to provide the best service to our members, but as the company continues to shrink, that becomes more and more difficult.”

In the late 1990s, Netflix revolutionized the world of home entertainment with a subscription service that mailed DVDs directly to customers. Founded in 1997, the company originally rented and sold DVDs, but after the first year, Netflix focused solely on rentals. In fact, a helpful infographic from Netflix (below) revealed that was the very first DVD it shipped Beetle juice in March 1998. Netflix introduced its monthly subscription model in 2000, and it quickly overtook its rental business. Then, in 2007, Netflix launched its streaming service.

Today, Netflix is ​​primarily known as a streaming service; yet it continued to operate DVD rentals from its DVD. com website. Netflix will rent DVDs through that channel until September 29, 2023. Customers have until October 27 to return those discs.

Current Netflix members don’t have to do anything to cancel their DVD subscription, though they can download their data if they wish to access their full movie rental history. More information can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions about Netflix DVDs.

Netflix has been trying to adapt to the fast-paced streaming world for some time, after reporting a loss of 1 million subscribers last year. Some efforts include introducing an ad-supported layer and restricting password sharing.

And now Netflix is ​​saying goodbye to the oldest part of its company.