New data from the streaming-video service reveal the point at which users fully committed to some of the most popular TV shows on Netflix. For instance, it took only two episodes of “Breaking Bad” for the vast majority of viewers to buy into the crime drama and complete the first season. “How I Met Your Mother,” on the other hand, was a more acquired taste: The high-concept sitcom didn’t hit a critical mass of loyal Netflix viewers until its eighth episode.
Netflix examined viewing patterns in the first season of 25 of the most-watched TV series in its catalog, including its own original series like “House of Cards” and “Orange Is the New Black.” The company identified the episode where 70% or more of viewers went on to finish at least the show’s first season.
Netflix uses such data, including the popularity of certain subjects and actors, to predict viewing patterns and determine how much money to spend on original or licensed shows. Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos says these statistics do not influence creative decisions about the company’s original series.*
The rare glimpse into the Netflix viewing patterns reflects the kind of commitment issues TV fans are dealing with amid a deluge of programming.
There will be an estimated 400 scripted TV series this year, nearly double the number from five years before, according to research from cable network FX. TV critics and other overscheduled viewers now refer to this production glut (only partially in jest) as “peak TV,” and that doesn’t even include the backlog of older shows that many people use streaming sites to catch up on.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/when-do-viewers-commit-to-tv-shows-netflix-reveals-data-1443015758
* Sure, uh huh.
Netflix examined viewing patterns in the first season of 25 of the most-watched TV series in its catalog, including its own original series like “House of Cards” and “Orange Is the New Black.” The company identified the episode where 70% or more of viewers went on to finish at least the show’s first season.
Netflix uses such data, including the popularity of certain subjects and actors, to predict viewing patterns and determine how much money to spend on original or licensed shows. Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos says these statistics do not influence creative decisions about the company’s original series.*
The rare glimpse into the Netflix viewing patterns reflects the kind of commitment issues TV fans are dealing with amid a deluge of programming.
There will be an estimated 400 scripted TV series this year, nearly double the number from five years before, according to research from cable network FX. TV critics and other overscheduled viewers now refer to this production glut (only partially in jest) as “peak TV,” and that doesn’t even include the backlog of older shows that many people use streaming sites to catch up on.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/when-do-viewers-commit-to-tv-shows-netflix-reveals-data-1443015758
* Sure, uh huh.
