The rise of Netflix and binge-watching has altered the way we consume films and television. Since the emergence of online streaming services, viewers now have unprecedented access to a large variety of content at their fingertips. This distribution shift has affected not only our viewing habits, but also the entertainment industry as a whole. Netflix (as representative of VOD as producer of original content)  signals a significant shift in a new media landscape and problematizes known terminologies (Jenner 2014).

One of Netflix’s key advantages is its ability to give entire seasons or series in a single sitting, allowing customers to view multiple episodes in a row. “Stranger Things” is a prime example of this, as viewers may watch an entire season in a single day. By releasing all episodes at once, viewers can immerse themselves in a show’s story and character development without interruption, watching each episode at their own leisure rather than waiting for a single episode to be released each week. This behaviour, known as binge-watching, is becoming increasingly popular among audiences all around the world. It offers an immersive experience unlike any other that traditional weekly releases cannot equal. Increasingly complex narrative structures demand our attention in a way scheduled  television rarely can. In this sense, Netflix may be viewed as part of a television  matrix, but, apart from offering serialised content, it signals a further move away from what is still understood as television (Jenner 2014).

Netflix and binge-watching have changed the way we watch films and TV shows by giving unprecedented ease, variety, and accessibility. With over 232 million subscribers to its name as of the first quarter of 2023, Netflix remains the most popular streaming service (Moskowitz & Brown, 2023). This transition, however, poses challenges for industry stakeholders who must navigate this new landscape while ensuring creators’ long-term revenue sources.

References:

Jenner, M. (2014) Is This TVIV? On Netflix, TV III and Binge-Watching

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1461444814541523#:~:text=In%20other%20words%2C%20increasingly%20complex,is%20still%20understood%20as%20television

Moskowitz, R., & Brown, K. A. (2023). Celebrate national streaming day with the most popular streaming services out there. USA Today.

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/reviewed/2023/05/19/national-streaming-day-most-popular-streaming-services-ranked-netflix-disney/70235316007/

By: Alicia Mahady-Ahedo 33699698