Netflix is ​​closing its DVD-by-mail subscriptions

Netflix is ​​discontinuing its DVD Mail service. (Which, yes, it still worked — for now.)

“After an incredible 25 years, we have decided to shut 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 business continues to shrink, that’s becoming increasingly difficult.”

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

Today, Netflix is ​​primarily known as a streaming service; However, it continued to operate DVD rentals from its own DVD.com Website. Netflix will be renting DVDs through this channel until September 29, 2023. Customers have until October 27th to return these discs.

Current Netflix members don’t have to do anything to cancel their DVD subscriptions, although they can download their data to access their entire movie rental history if they choose. For more information, see the Frequently asked questions about Netflix DVDs.

Netflix has been trying to adjust to the rapidly turbulent streaming world for some time after reporting a loss of 1 million subscribers last year. Some efforts include introducing an ad-supported tier and mitigating password sharing.

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

Image: Netflix