Netflix is preparing to send out one last batch of DVDs next month and is tempting customers to sign up one last time before August 29 for a special surprise. Netflix has announced that current U.S. customers will be selected at random to receive up to ten extra DVDs before Netflix ships its last disc.
“After 25 years of movies in the mail, we’re approaching the end of our final season,” said Netflix in an email first reported by Collider. “We really appreciate that you’re sharing movie nights with us until the last day. Let’s have some fun for our finale!”
Netflix won’t say how many DVDs eligible customers could receive, though noted supplies are limited. Every customer will be entered into the lottery, and will find out if they’ve ‘won’ until DVDs from their watchlist start showing up in their mailbox. Sadly you can’t ask for this deal and have to be selected.
In April, Netflix said it’s shutting down its DVD delivery service after 25 years. Netflix put streaming on the map by transitioning from deliverable DVDs to streaming content. Its DVD division turned into DVD.com.
“Those iconic red envelopes changed the way people watched shows and movies at home – and they paved the way for the shift to start streaming,” said Co-CEO Ted Sarandos. “DVDs also led to our first foray into original programming.”
Netflix’s DVD business generated just $145.7 million in revenue in the 1st quarter of 2023, down 20% from the same time in 2022. DVDs now make up just 0.5% of Netflix’s revenue.
DVD.com plans start at $9.99 a month for one disc at a time, $14.99 for two discs at a time, or $19.99 for three discs at a time. You can get both DVDs and Blu-rays for that price.
DVD.com customers’ final bill will be in August, and they will continue to get access to the service until September 29th, 2023. Netflix says they will accept discs until October 27th, 2023
Redbox’s parent company Chicken Soup For The Entertainment, had announced that it would like to buy Netflix DVD rental business before it shuts down in September of this year. Sadly it looks like Netflix has no interest in the deal.
“I’d like to buy it,” said Bill Rouhana, the CEO of Chicken Soup, told Penske Showbiz Trades, according to NextTV. “I wish Netflix would sell me that business instead of shutting it down. … This could be a great boon to us because now there are a whole bunch of people who are going to look for a new place to get their DVDs, and we’re close to 90% of them based on where our kiosks are located.”