When cable TV was first introduced to people in 1950, it blew people’s minds away, bringing regalement and world events straight to their homes through merely a glass screen. Cable TV companies wore the crown in the video transmission domain for decades until someone put a finger on its weak spots and tossed off streaming services in the form of on-demand TV, almost 40 years later. Netflix was one such company that took the lead and gained walloping stardom like greased lightning.
Greatly acclaimed as a trailblazer in the video streaming biz, Netflix quickly became part of everyone’s social routine and even inspired the buzzword “binge-watching” amongst millennials. Binge-watching essentially involves the act of viewing multiple episodes of a TV series in one go and that’s one of the main features of a streaming site.
How Netflix Came Into Existence?
Been drowned in work? You can evade your stress over the weekend by “binge-watching” your favorite show on Netflix. Traveling and faced with a 24-hour layover? Killing time isn’t an issue anymore, again, thanks to Netflix! Movie tickets burning a hole in your pocket?
Subscribe to Netflix at about the same price as the ticket and get unlimited access to their content! No, Netflix hasn’t paid us to slip in an elevator pitch, and yes, all this sounds too good to be true. Only, the truth is that it’s actually that good.
The American VOD megacorp is the brainchild of two gentlemen – Reed Hastings and Marc Rudolph, that was created in 1997. Initially, they offered online DVD rentals and finally adopted online streaming technology in 2007 which is the Netflix we know today. So without further ado, let’s look at how Netflix works, what plans do they offer, their range of content, and how to get started.
How Does Netflix Work?
Netflix primarily works on a subscription-based model wherein users are charged a small fee on a monthly basis to get unlimited access to their content. Unlike a few other streaming/torrent sites, Netflix is totally legit and doesn’t require you to have any VPN subscription. To boot, it enables you to watch TV shows and movies whenever and from wherever you wish, so long as you’re connected to the internet.
What Do You Get And For How Much?
Netflix’s plans are a bit convoluted but certainly offer the best value for your money. Furthermore, they run a free trial period of 30 days that helps you to experience their service. You can choose from any of their three plans depending upon your budget and requirements:
• Basic – The most basic plan is priced at $8.99/month and allows you to watch the content in Standard Definition (SD) on one screen at a time.
• Standard – Priced at $12.99/month, this is the most popular plan that allows viewers to access content in High Definition (HD) on two screens at the same time.
• Premium – At $15.99/month, you can watch TV shows and movies in High Definition/Ultra HD on four devices at the same time.
Note that the aforementioned pricing structure is for the American audience but it is more or less the same in other parts of the world. Also, you can cancel the subscription or upgrade your plan anytime you wish.
Where Can You Watch Netflix?
Netflix was initially available only in the U.S but gradually expanded to all the other continents due to its popularity and high demand. You can enjoy their services from literally any part of the world except the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, North Korea, and China.
However, Netflix curates its content carefully to cater to the users of a specific country. Therefore, the content in the U.S. will differ from what’s available in India, or France, or South Korea hinging on the languages spoken in that country.
Range of Content
Netflix has the mammoth library of TV shows, movies, and documentaries to choose from. The genres range from Comedy to Horror to Drama to Indie films. It boasts of popular movies like Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, Inception, Batman, etc. and popular shows such as Breaking Bad, Gossip Girl, Naruto, and The Walking Dead.
However, Netflix sets itself apart from its rivals by producing top-class shows under the “Netflix Originals” category. Some of the most loved Netflix Original series include Orange is the New Black, Stranger Things, Narcos, and House of Cards. The VOD service company has also come out with several original movies like The Do-Over and The Ridiculous 6, and they’re working on many other exciting projects that would be released sometime this year.
Although it may take a while before the latest movie or show gets added to the library, you’re still spoilt for choice.
What Device Can You Use To Access Netflix?
Netflix offers both, a website and an app, supported on most devices across various platforms. You can use your laptop or desktop running on Windows or Mac OS, tablets & smartphones running on iOS, Android or Windows, streaming gadgets such as Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku TV, and even gaming consoles including Sony Playstation and Xbox one.
How Friendly Is The UI?
You’d absolutely love using Netflix, thanks to its smooth, clean, and easy-to-use interface. The homepage shows the latest Netflix Originals, the trending shows, top picks based on your browsing history, popular movies, etc. in a thumbnail format, making the layout all the more appealing. You’ll also find shows/movies that you didn’t finish watching and resumes playing from where you left off the last time.
Another useful feature is that when you point the cursor to a show or movie, it displays all the essential information such as its user ratings, plot summary, runtime, which year was it released, and the star cast. Once you hit the play button, you’ll see a media control bar at the bottom which lets you pause, forward, choose subtitles, or move onto the next episode.
If you’re worried that your kids will somehow get access to A-rated content, don’t worry. Netflix enables you to select who’s watching upon logging in, whether you or your kids and displays content accordingly.
How To Get Started?
Simply download the Netflix app or log onto their website and create an account using your email address. Add your payment details, select a plan, and begin watching! Just hot on the buttons and download or visit their web portal.
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