Television has changed a lot with the rise of internet distributed platforms, and Netflix is one of the clearest examples of this transformation. As Mareike Jenner explains in ‘Netflix and the Reinvention of Television’ (2018), Netflix is not just another broadcaster, it represents a real shift away from the traditional network model of television.

One major change Netflix has introduced is how shows are produced. Netflix doesn’t follow the traditional network model of weekly episodes and a fixed schedule. Instead, it often releases full seasons at once. This gives writers and producers more freedom to tell long stories without worrying about adverts or strict episode lengths. A good example of this is ‘The Crown’ (2016-2024). The show has a cinematic style, high production values, and stories that develop slowly and smoothly across the whole season.

Netflix also has changed how audiences consume television. Viewers can watch shows whenever. And wherever they want, which has led to binge-watching. Jenner describes binge-watching as watching several episodes in one sitting, something that has become a staple of Netflix. Netflix made binge-watching central to the viewing experience. Many people watch ‘The Crown’ by watching multiple episodes in a row, rather than waiting each week for a new episode.

This shows how television in the Netflix era has moved away from the traditional network model. Netflix exists in a media landscape that is slowly merging together, where television, the internet, and digital devices are all connected. This new landscape can also open up possibilities for representation. Although ‘The Crown’ focuses on the British monarchy, it also explores themes of gender, power, and public identity, especially through Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana.

Overall, we can say that streaming television has transformed how TV is made, watched, consumed, and understood nowadays.

By: Gracia Mujica Massaro

References

Mareike Jenner (2018), ‘Introduction: Netflix and the Renvention of Television’, ‘Introduction: Binge Watching Netflix’, Netflix and the Reinvention of Television, pp. 1-31, 109-118.