How binge-watching is changing networks' strategies
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As the new TV ritual of 鈥渂inge-watching鈥 becomes an integral part of the medium, broadcast and cable networks are attempting to make their programs more suitable for watching several episodes in a row.聽
Netflix shows in particular are famous for releasing a season's worth of episodes on the same day, as with shows such as 鈥淗ouse of Cards鈥 or 鈥淯nbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.鈥 And an increasing number of Americans are making streaming TV their primary way of watching TV rather than opting for a cable or satellite TV subscription.
So now some networks are jumping on board with the 鈥渂inge-watching鈥 idea. One recent experiment with this was TBS鈥檚 program 鈥淎ngie Tribeca,鈥 which stars Rashida Jones and is a parody of police procedurals. When the show debuted at the beginning of the year, TBS put all 10 episodes of the show on TV at the same time, airing them as part of a 25-hour event.
The network attempted to bring in viewers by adding appearances from actors like Ms. Jones, late-night hosts Conan O鈥橞rien and Samantha Bee, and Jason Jones of 鈥淭he Detour,鈥 among others. Viewers could call in and stars including executive producer Steve Carell answered the phone.聽
According to TBS, the move did bring in new viewers, with a third of the audience not having watched TBS before.聽
Even one of the Big Four networks recently tried a strategy along these lines. When NBC debuted its show 鈥淎quarius鈥 this past summer, the network aired the pilot for the show, then made all the episodes of the show鈥檚 first season available online. The show has been renewed for a second season.聽
Networks are trying more traditional ways to keep viewers going on to the next episode as well. TV Land鈥檚 show 鈥淚mpastor,鈥 which centers on a man in debt who masquerades as a preacher, is coming back for a second season this summer and TV Land creative and marketing executive Kim Rosenblum said the writers added suspenseful endings to all the episodes in an attempt to bring back viewers.聽
"We added a storyline that was told more episodically as the mystery unravels," .
But should all TV be like Netflix, with the ability to quickly move on to a new episode rather than waiting for a week?
writes that 鈥渂inge-watching鈥 a show can make watching a TV program feel like one long task and may even make you feel more obligated to finish a season once you鈥檝e started.
鈥淔or some reason, it鈥檚 very easy to quit a weekly show mid-season, or even after one less-than-enticing episode,鈥 Mr. Sternbergh wrote of watching Netflix鈥檚 鈥淒aredevil.鈥 鈥淏ut because there鈥檚 always one more 鈥楧aredevil鈥 to devour, I feel compelled to consume them all 鈥 watching a show鈥檚 episodes back-to-back-to-back, without the buffer of a week in between, often highlights repetitious crutches and lazy narrative shortcuts 鈥 With a traditional show like 鈥楾he Good Wife,鈥 the creators can respond to public reaction and course-correct.鈥
And makes the argument that streaming has not yet created a great drama.
"So far, streaming has best served a certain kind of plot-heavy, competent-but-not-revolutionary drama," Mr. Poniewozik wrote. "... Streaming needs to learn to use its supersized format better, not fight against it."