Claim: Community is available to stream internationally.

Netflix is an American entertainment company founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph on August 29 , 1997 , in Scotts Valley , California . It specializes in and provides streaming media and video-on-demand online and DVD by mail . In 2013 , Netflix expanded into film and television production , as well as online distribution . As of 2017 , the company has its headquarters in Los Gatos , California .   Netflix 's initial business model included DVD sales and rental , although Hastings jettisoned DVD sales about a year after Netflix 's founding to focus on the DVD rental by mail business . In 2007 , Netflix expanded its business with the introduction of streaming media , while retaining the DVD and Blu-ray rental service . The company expanded internationally , with streaming made available to Canada in 2010 and continued growing its streaming service from there ; by January 2016 , Netflix services operated in over 190 countries .   Netflix entered the content-production industry in 2013 , debuting its first series , House of Cards . It has greatly expanded the production of both film and television series since then , offering `` Netflix Original '' content through its online library of films and television . Netflix released an estimated 126 original series or films in 2016 , more than any other network or cable channel .   In April 2017 , Netflix reported having over 98 million subscribers worldwide , including more than 50 million in the United States .