With all of Netflix's recent success, it's hard to believe that merely two years ago the video-streaming provider was in the middle of a massive public relations crisis.
In September 2011, CEO Reed Hastings posted on Netflix's blog that the company was planning to separate its DVD-by-mail service from its online video-streaming service. The new DVD-by-mail service was, bafflingly, to be named Qwikster - and customers who subscribed to both services would see their accounts split: Qwikster.com and Netflix.com websites will not be integrated," Hastings acknowledged in his rambling blog post.
Astonishingly, the Qwikster announcement came less than two months after a price hike that instigated vitriolic posts on the company's Facebook page from angry customers. With subscribers promising to cancel their accounts and the press covering every blunder the company made, Netflix's future couldn't have looked more bleak.
Today, Netflix has capitalized on the ever-increasing appetite for binge-watching television. It boasts 37.6 million streaming subscribers and three of its original shows are up for Emmy Awards. Long gone are the days of Qwikster - the company wisely backtracked on their decision in October 2011, before the separated services became a reality - and of hateful Facebook posts. Miraculously, Netflix has resurrected itself and is providing its subscribers with quality original programming, as well as untold hours of previously released TV shows and movies.
Netflix made the first season of the drama "House of Cards" (2013) available in February - its first real foray into the world of original content. (Between 2009 and 2012, the company briefly dabbled in webisodes and comedy stand-up specials.) The political thriller had big names behind it: Academy Award nominated director David Fincher directed the first two episodes, while Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright led the cast.
It was a savvy way to launch its first show
