Binge watching is a term that was invented not too long and can be accredited the rise in popularity of streaming services such as Netflix & Amazon prime.  This post will look into why this phenomenon has developed as such, with a focus on how Netflix has essentially re-invented the consumption of television.

Netflix was founded in 1997 as a physical video library that would ship out DVDs to customers in the convenience of their home. From the start, Netflix has engaged with the internet to provide services, unlike other video libraries such as Blockbuster who had not yet offered this service.

Eventually they switched to a fully online platform, where consumers paid for a subscription service to access a plethora of shows and films. Other companies started shifting to this form of streaming until eventually came the downfall of television broadcasted shows & the age of internet broadcasted shows came about. This can also be owed to the marketing tactics used by Netflix such original produced shows that were exclusive to the platform.

There are a few reasons why this form of television consumption became so popular, one of them being the accessibility. People were able to view their favorite shows from the convenience of their phone, laptops, tablets and more. Another reason is that there was no need to follow a routine schedule, people were able to watch their shows at their own designated time and pace. Which brings us the increase in the phenomenon we know as binge-watching.

Being given the access to episodes of a whole season or multiple seasons meant that consumers could finish entire shows in a day or week. As unpractical as it sounds, this eventually became a culture, with multiple “binge-worthy shows to watch” lists and articles being generated through a simple google search. “According to some scientists, people love binge-watching because it releases a natural chemical in the brain that makes them feel good.” (Admin et al., 2018) . Despite being fairly recent, the phenomena has cemented itself in this new era of television.

Reading list

Admin et al. (2018) What is binge-watching?, Macmillan Dictionary Blog. Available at: https://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/binge-watching (Accessed: November 10, 2022). 

Aseel Mohamed Waheed Deen

10/11/22