Netflix Television Streaming Getting Bigger Than Big

   Launched in 1997 with the goal of people not having to drive to the video store, Netflix Inc. became a hit with consumers and helped push the movie rental chain Blockbuster into bankruptcy.  The video-by-mail company, Netflix, charged customers a small monthly fee for unlimited DVDs by mail.  Netflex then expanded into Internet streaming in 2007.  For most of that time motion pictures consisted of more than 80% of the DVDs shipped and almost all of the Internet streaming consisted of motion pictures.  Now less than 40% of the 2 billion-plus hours of video streamed via Internet during the fourth quarter of 2011 originated on the big screen.  The ability to 'package' entire seasons of television production into a single DVD volume, with say, one or two video discs is leading the attractiveness to consumers.  For instance, if you didn't see 13 episodes, a typical number of episodes for a television season, of any one of your favorite television shows you simply order the weeks you want from Netflix, and catch up on everything you've missed.   See also, http://www.nytimes.com/.