For those who think that Netflix doesn’t rule the world of television shows and movies, think again.
On Monday, Netflix announced it had reached 40 million subscribers worldwide, according to the New York Times.
Netflix-produced shows like “Orange is the New Black” and “House of Cards” helped the on-demand Internet streaming service eclipse 30 million subscribers in the U.S. alone.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the number of Netflix subscribers also surpassed the number of HBO subscribers in the U.S. by almost 2.3 million.
News of the subscription increase helped the company’s stock rise by nearly 6.44 percent on Monday, according to the New York Times.
With its announcement, it’s undeniable that Netflix has positioned itself as the definitive Internet streaming service.
While Netflix continues to grow in size and popularity, however, it’s important that network television executives do more to compete with the streaming service.
If network television fails to compete with Netflix, network ratings will continue to plummet in a way that may not be easily remedied.
According to the LA Times, more than 316,000 cable subscribers opted out of their pricey television contracts between June 2012 and June 2013.
While modern-day TV shows like “Mad Men” and “Homeland” may have strong, devoted fan bases, it’s oftentimes hard to justify paying a $100 cable bill each month.
With free or affordable television alternatives, cable has increasingly become a nusiance for some.
The beauty of Netflix, unlike cable, lies in its simplicity.
For only $7.99 per month, Netflix users can watch thousands of hours of programming.
For example, fans of “The Walking Dead” can watch the show’s first three seasons on Netflix and the fourth season as it airs each week.
Without Netflix, fans of “The Walking Dead” at this point would have to buy DVDs for each of the three seasons in order to catch up for the show’s fourth season.
Netflix saves television fans not only time but also money.
More interesting than its stock price or number of subscribers is how Netflix has changed the way Americans watch movies and television.
The notion of binge viewing, where subscribers tune out real-world distractions and watch their favorite shows in a marathon, has become commonplace because of Netflix.
Whereas before one was tied to watching whatever was on TV, Netflix users can now watch as much as they want.
Watching 12 episodes of “Mad Men” every day isn’t unheard of.
Original programs like “Derek” also make Netflix a valuable commodity.
In short, Netflix has changed the way Americans consume digital media for the better.
Its expansion into the online media realm has helped cement Netflix as the most popular streaming site, compared to others like Hulu and Apple TV.
More of a media giant than a media presence, Netflix has set itself above all its competitors.
And the future is especially bright for the ever-growing media giant.
Shane Newell is a junior journalism major and the opinions editor at the Daily 49er.