That’s a broad topic! Since you're looking for an essay on Netflix, I’ve broken it down into a few different "angles" depending on what you're focusing on—whether it's how they changed the industry, their business model, or the cultural impact of "binge-watching."
Netflix began in 1997 as a modest DVD-by-mail service, famously born from Reed Hastings' frustration with a $40 late fee at Blockbuster. Today, it is a global titan that has fundamentally altered how humanity consumes media. The transition from physical discs to digital streaming didn't just change the technology; it changed the very culture of storytelling and the economics of Hollywood. Netflix
Before Netflix, television was "appointment-based." Viewers had to be in front of a TV at a specific time, and episodes were released weekly. Netflix pioneered the "binge-watching" model by dropping entire seasons at once. This shifted the power from the broadcaster to the consumer, forcing traditional cable companies to adapt or face obsolescence (a phenomenon known as "cord-cutting"). That’s a broad topic