Times of India | In 1997, Reed Hastings got hit with a late fee and quietly rewired the way world watches movies AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. In 1997 Reed Hastings was hit with a late fee for a video rental, a small irritation that revealed a deeper problem with the whole brick‑and‑mortar model—limited inventory, fixed store hours and punitive penalties that created constant friction for customers. Spotting that DVDs were lightweight, durable and could fit in a standard envelope, Hastings realized the format could be mailed directly to viewers, eliminating late fees, deadline pressure and the need to drive to a store. By pairing DVD rentals with postal delivery and online ordering, Netflix introduced a more convenient, scalable system that removed the scarcity‑based constraints of traditional video stores and set the stage for the streaming giant it is today. Read more: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/in-1997-reed-hastings-got-hit-with-a-late-fee-and-quietly-rewired-the-way-the-world-watches-movies/articleshow/130709522.cms #ReedHastings #Netflix