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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Business
Andrew Lawrence

Netflix’s Reed Hastings changed the way we watch TV – for better or for worse

hastings in front of netflix logo
Reed Hastings at the 2016 CES trade show in Las Vegas. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters

Perhaps nothing sums up the legacy of Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings as neatly as a certain Dr Pepper commercial.

In the 30-second spot, a staple of live sports, a group of friends gather to watch a college football game – but, gasp, the TV has disconnected from the streaming service. A mad scramble ensues to track down a paper slip with the password and painstakingly enter it via arrows on a remote. Once they are logged back in, the room exhales, but not before one fan vents his frustration. “I miss basic cable,” he huffs.

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