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LOS GATOS, Calif., Dec. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 'Selfies' may be the official new word of 2013, but Binge-Watching was a runner up for a reason. A recent survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Netflix among nearly 1,500 TV streamers (online U.S. adults who stream TV shows at least once a week) found that binge watching is a widespread behavior among this group, with 61% binge watching regularly1.
If the common perception of binge watching was a weekend-long, pajama-wearing marathon of TV viewing, survey respondents don't see it that way. A majority (73%) defined binge watching as watching between 2-6 episodes of the same TV show in one sitting. And there's no guilt in it. Nearly three quarters of TV streamers (73%) say they have positive feelings towards binge streaming TV.
To better understand why binge watching has become such a cultural phenomenon, Netflix worked with cultural anthropologist, Grant McCracken, to trace the evolution of binge watching and more importantly, to explore how and why binge watching television is resonating with today's viewers. McCracken went into the living rooms of several TV viewers across the United States and Canada to explore their changing TV behaviors.
"I found that binge watching has really taken off due to a perfect storm of better TV, our current economic climate and the digital explosion of the last few years," said Grant McCracken, cultural anthropologist. "But this TV watcher is different, the couch potato has awoken. And now that services like Netflix have given consumers control over their TV viewing, they have declared a new way to watch."
"Our viewing data shows that the majority of streamers would actually prefer to have a whole season of a show available to watch at their own pace," said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix. "Netflix has pioneered audience choice in programming and has helped free consumers from the limitations of linear television. Our own original series are created for multi-episodic viewing, lining up the content with new norms of viewer control for the first time."
McCracken believes our digital lifestyle, where storytelling is often reduced to bite-sized, 140 character conversations, leaves us craving the kind of long narrative of storytelling in today's great TV shows. "TV viewers are no longer zoning out as a way to forget about their day, they are tuning in, on their own schedule, to a different world. Getting immersed in multiple episodes or even multiple seasons of a show over a few weeks is a new kind of escapism that is especially welcomed today," he added.
TV streamers overwhelmingly agreed. 76% of TV streamers say watching multiple episodes of a great TV show is a welcome refuge from their busy lives. 79% said watching several episodes of their favorite shows at once actually makes the shows more enjoyable. And three-quarters (76%) also say streaming TV shows on their own schedule is their preferred way to watch them.
McCracken found a new trend emerging he characterizes as "In case of emergency, break glass." TV streamers are deciding to save shows to watch for a later date. While McCracken observed this in his research, the survey confirmed that more than one third (37%) of TV streamers said they prefer to "save" new TV series or seasons to stream at a later date.
SURVEY METHODOLOGY This survey was conducted online within the United States between November 25 and 27, 2013 among 3,078 adults aged 18 and older, of whom 1,496 stream TV shows at least once a week, by Harris Interactive on behalf of Netflix via its Quick Query omnibus product. Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
About Netflix, Inc.Netflix is the world's leading Internet television network with over 40 million members in more than 40 countries enjoying more than one billion hours of TV shows and movies per month, including original series. For one low monthly price, Netflix members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
The study, commissioned by Netflix, provides a thorough review of U.S. original fictional content on the service from the years studied. Through this content audit, the Initiative was able to identify the areas where Netflix has been most inclusive, and where progress is needed.
Overall, 31.9% of all leads/co-leads were from an underrepresented racial/ethnic group across both series and film content. This overall point statistic masked an important trend, however. There was a notable uptick from 2018 to 2019 for both film and series. In fact, a full 40% of the leads/co-leads in 2019 films were from underrepresented groups.
Gains were also observed for main cast. 34.1% of main cast roles were held by underrepresented actors across both films and series. But a 6.6 percentage point increase was found in film (32.3% to 38.9%) and an 11.4 percentage point increase in series (27% to 38.4%) from 2018 to 2019. The change over time meant that Netflix films and series were closing in or reached proportional representation to the U.S. population of underrepresented individuals for leads and main cast in 2019.
The percentage of Black directors and writers both increased from 2018 to 2019 in Netflix films. In series, Netflix worked with a higher percentage of Black series creators in 2019 than 2018. Black directors, screenwriters, and creators featured more leads/co-leads, main cast, and series regulars than non-Black creative personnel in these positions. By hiring and supporting Black creatives, Netflix ensured that its stories featured more Black leads, main cast, and characters on screen.
Turning to Asian cast and crew, 4% of leads/co-leads and 7% of main cast were Asian, approaching proportional representation. Actors of Indian, Chinese, or Korean descent were most likely to appear in Netflix films and series. No more than 5% of directors, writers, producers, or creators across films and series were Asian. Very few cast members or creatives were Middle Eastern/North African, American Indian/Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander in Netflix films and series. Cultivating opportunities intentionally for these erased communities is not only important but a necessary next step toward greater inclusion.
Although nearly 12% of the U.S. population identifies as LGBTQ+, 2.3% of all leads/co-leads, 5.3% of main cast, and 2.8% of speaking characters in films and series combined were LGBTQ. There were very few transgender cast or characters in Netflix content. While half of the LGBTQ leads and co-leads were female-identified, the majority of LGBTQ main cast and speaking characters were men. Of all LGBTQ characters, 40.2% were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. Among LGBTQ characters, 17.3% were parents.
A very loose adaptation of the DC Comics character of the same name, Lucifer stars Tom Ellis as the charismatic Lucifer Morningstar. The former ruler of hell, Lucifer abandons his post to run a nightclub in Los Angeles instead. Seeking more thrills, he becomes a consultant working with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Peaky Blinders is a true modern classic, benefiting from a riveting central performance from Murphy and an equally enthralling portrayal by the late Helen McCrory. The show featured guest turns from guest stars like Anya Taylor-Joy (Furiosa), Tom Hardy, and Sam Claflin, quickly cementing itself as an influential part of modern television. While never an awards darling, Peaky Blinders enjoyed immense critical and fan acclaim, lasting six seasons before wrapping its violent, yet insightful story on a satisfying note.
Starting on the British network Channel 4, Black Mirror moved to Netflix in season 3, and the rest is history. The anthology show explores several themes, mainly revolving around technology, media consumption, and human detachment. Most of its episodes are set in dystopias where technology has increased its dominance, leading to an increasingly fractured human condition.
The Public Broadcasting Service isn't always fully appreciated by the general public. Even in the present, it's still a convenient target for politicians who call for it to be defunded. What those politicians fail to understand is that PBS is truly a public service. For 54 years, PBS local stations across America have provided free programing that spans news, documentaries, educational shows, children's series, dramas, comedies, and more. Most of the PBS originals are series that would have been been shown on America's broadcast networks.
While the streaming era has split audiences like never before, PBS remains a bedrock for quality entertainment and informative shows. And as they often say during Pledge Week, these shows are supported through donations "by viewers like you." To celebrate everything that the Public Broadcasting Service has to offer, we've put together our picks for the 10 best PBS shows ever. Nine out of the 10 are still available to stream.
10. The French Chef (1963-1973)
We're not even halfway through the year, so why are we ranking the best shows of Netflix after just five months? While these lists usually come at the end of the year, we couldn't wait -- there are just too many good shows out there that need to be watched either for the first time or the 10th.
And that's certainly true of Netflix's original series programming, which has been on fire in the first half of 2024. From a low-key sci-fi show about a mother's discovery and a father's attempt to uncover the truth to a wildly popular show about obsession and sexual trauma, these five Netflix series showcase not only what's great about the streamer, but what's great about the television format as well.
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