This was brilliant, especially this insight: “Forgetting humans are social animals is never a good business strategy.” I had never thought about binge-watching this way before, but you’ve convinced me. Of course, I’m an older Gen-Xer who fondly remembers racing to school to discuss the latest episode of Mork and Mindy. Those conversations with friends about TV were fun!
These are brilliant observations. Who would’ve thought something so banal as how tv is delivered would have huge cultural implications? But it does! Just like social media created echo chambers instead of piazzas, this model of streaming has created crack houses rather than party houses.
As somebody who actually subscribes to Netflix, I would say that it’s current problem is it’s UI. I know that it has quite a bit of content that I might be interested in watching, but it only seems to suggest the same twenty mediocre shows. If I’ve already seen everything it is suggesting, what’s the point of opening the app?
For sure, Netflix' algorithms are wonky. There are several shows that my wife and I watch regularly that will either only show up on her profile, or only show up on mine.
I've also had conversations with friends about a show I watched, and they insisted I must be mistaken about it being on Netflix because they could not find it.
The first show I ever binged was Sports Night, some time in the early 2000's. I don't remember exactly why. Might have been a recommendation from TV writer Alan Sepinwall.
The show was well dead by the time I got to it. Still, the experience was interesting at the time.
I think your discussion of the history and evolution of TV elides the rise of premium cable shows, which really changed the TV game in a big way and was really the pre-cursor of the era of the Netflix originals. The first show I really remember being called a "water cooler show" was The Sopranos, which was on HBO, of course.
I hate my artificial word limit because I had to cut a section on prestige TV.
I'm really curious on what first experiencing Sports Night after it went off the air was like. When I tried to rewatch it the show not only felt so "90s" it also felt like watching a proto-West Wing. But I was a teenage boy who loved Sabrina Lloyd since Sliders so I adored every episode back then!
I think because somewhere along the line "millenial" became a generic insult for young people. The other day I called someone way too young to actually be one a millenial because he couldn't figure out a Polaroid camera. A middle-aged (which I am) millenial (which I am) feels like a contradiction in terms.
The Magnum PI references and discursions on non bingeing TV would seem to put you more with me in the Gen X category.
Your paragraph on season breaks reminded me of a story. When I was about 8 I was always annoyed that my parents would make me stop watching my shows so they could watch the news. But clever me little me figured that one day the news would stop for a break as well, so I'd be able to watch whatever I wanted. It was a great puzzle to the younger me that this never seemed to happen.
Older people tend to have a different definition of Millenial. To them, it means anyone born after 2K, not someone who 'came of age' during it. It may not be the original definition, but when more people are using it that way, language changes.
This is exactly what I've been saying for years! Which means probably a lot of people have thought this, and clearly Disney and HBO, as you point out, realized it. But these always crystallize more when someone just lays out the argument.
I feel sort of both ways about the fragmentation of culture. I think it's actually increased polarization because people live in simultaneous but not necessarily overlapping realities. Like, someone's favorite band could be streamed millions of times by millions of people and not only might they be a band I've never heard of, they might be playing music in a genre I've never heard of.
There are obvious problems with all media needing to filter through a few channels, but the media markets are actually more consolidated now than they were before the immense fragmentation of culture. Which is not what I'd have expected!
Disney+ gained audience because it's Disney. As they added more content, more people signed on. That's it.
The binge format is still the preferred mode for many, to the point that it is hurting TV ratings as people just wait until the entire season has aired before they start to watch it. Even live sports ratings are hurting due to streaming services that will allow you to watch any time -- the need to be "in the moment" isn't there anymore.
My favorite part of this article was how you described the way this has changed the social landscape of TV. You are SO right -- if I wanted to see Squid Games now, it's way too late. The buzz is gone. Super interesting!
I watched Squid Games after the initial “buzz” and I still enjoyed it. But I watch TV to entertain myself, not because everyone is talking about the show and I want in on that.
It’s no perfect show but I really enjoyed it. I do admit to a fondness for Korean movies and TV shows. Higher quality content, IMO, although I am sure it is mainly their best content that makes it to the states for consumption.
But I have cancelled Netflix for now, anyway. I’ll probably pick it back up next Winter and see what they have.
I'm not sure exactly the point of the Henry Ford reference, but he didn't invent anything either. He appropriated and streamlined ideas, but the automobile and the combustion engine were both invented by others, as well as the assembly line process. In essence, Ford was the Netflix to the carriage company's Blockbuster.
Great article, However, TIVO changed everything beginning in 1998-99 and should be given it’s due. And you are so right about the superiority of the British version of House of Cards! And I would add, British shows generally, accessible in the US via Acorn TV and BritBox.
Binging a series long proceeds House of cards. In fact, Netflix was already making that a regular possibility with its DVD by mail plan that long pre-dated its live streaming. You could order a entire season of just about any series and binge watch it. And you could do the same thing at Blockbuster for decades before that.
I began to subscribe to Netflix the first year. It was an existence. I loved it, and I love the idea that just because music and then film could move to a digital format on a disk that could be mailed up and did everything. But Netflix is over with and one of the best examples of this is the super lame reviews or descriptions that they give their offerings instead of telling potential viewers Something about the plot, something like an elevator pitch, such as , “ Harrison Ford returns in the long, awaited sequel to blade runner with a whole new set of problems.”
Now we get, “ supernatural thriller, created by Augustine, Martinez and Carlos Monteiro features Carla Campra.”
So what’s wrong with this? Well, first of all doesn’t tell me anything about what I’m about ready to watch and next worst is how elitist it is because if I don’t know who Augustine Martinez and Carlos Monteiro are then I guess I’m shit out of luck
It says if they’ve hired a fifth grader to do their blurbs, they don’t even care enough about their product to do any kind of promotion
For five dollars a month I get PBS all the live long day.. and for next to nothing, I get Amazon, free delivery, free, movies, free music.
None of the solutions are perfect and since most of us have affectively been shut in since Covid, we’ve all probably ran through all the good movies that we like, according to our tastes.
This was brilliant, especially this insight: “Forgetting humans are social animals is never a good business strategy.” I had never thought about binge-watching this way before, but you’ve convinced me. Of course, I’m an older Gen-Xer who fondly remembers racing to school to discuss the latest episode of Mork and Mindy. Those conversations with friends about TV were fun!
You really stan for Peter Thiel.
These are brilliant observations. Who would’ve thought something so banal as how tv is delivered would have huge cultural implications? But it does! Just like social media created echo chambers instead of piazzas, this model of streaming has created crack houses rather than party houses.
I stan for anyone who can pay me enough money to not be a lawyer. I've got a series all lined up about the magic of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!
And thamk you for the kind words!
In 2012, before “House of Cards,” was “Lillyhammer” starring Steven Van Zandt - Netflix’s first original show.
(and since I’m here, the phrase is “old-fashioned”, not “old fashion”)
Hey look, I’m a skeuomorphic! A know-it-all, but on the internet. 😂
«Hey look, I’m a skeuomorphic! A know-it-all, but on the internet. » I’m stealing this for daily use, everywhere. ❤️
Agreed!
As somebody who actually subscribes to Netflix, I would say that it’s current problem is it’s UI. I know that it has quite a bit of content that I might be interested in watching, but it only seems to suggest the same twenty mediocre shows. If I’ve already seen everything it is suggesting, what’s the point of opening the app?
For sure, Netflix' algorithms are wonky. There are several shows that my wife and I watch regularly that will either only show up on her profile, or only show up on mine.
I've also had conversations with friends about a show I watched, and they insisted I must be mistaken about it being on Netflix because they could not find it.
The first show I ever binged was Sports Night, some time in the early 2000's. I don't remember exactly why. Might have been a recommendation from TV writer Alan Sepinwall.
The show was well dead by the time I got to it. Still, the experience was interesting at the time.
I think your discussion of the history and evolution of TV elides the rise of premium cable shows, which really changed the TV game in a big way and was really the pre-cursor of the era of the Netflix originals. The first show I really remember being called a "water cooler show" was The Sopranos, which was on HBO, of course.
I hate my artificial word limit because I had to cut a section on prestige TV.
I'm really curious on what first experiencing Sports Night after it went off the air was like. When I tried to rewatch it the show not only felt so "90s" it also felt like watching a proto-West Wing. But I was a teenage boy who loved Sabrina Lloyd since Sliders so I adored every episode back then!
Today I learned a word: skeuomorphic
Also today I learned why I didn’t care about Tiger King and Squid Games-- I knew the mania would end soon.
You're a millenial? Doesn't vibe with the rest of the article ....
I think because somewhere along the line "millenial" became a generic insult for young people. The other day I called someone way too young to actually be one a millenial because he couldn't figure out a Polaroid camera. A middle-aged (which I am) millenial (which I am) feels like a contradiction in terms.
The Magnum PI references and discursions on non bingeing TV would seem to put you more with me in the Gen X category.
Your paragraph on season breaks reminded me of a story. When I was about 8 I was always annoyed that my parents would make me stop watching my shows so they could watch the news. But clever me little me figured that one day the news would stop for a break as well, so I'd be able to watch whatever I wanted. It was a great puzzle to the younger me that this never seemed to happen.
Wild Wild West’s hero was James West, no? Loved That show. From another Gen Xer, on the older side.
Older people tend to have a different definition of Millenial. To them, it means anyone born after 2K, not someone who 'came of age' during it. It may not be the original definition, but when more people are using it that way, language changes.
This is exactly what I've been saying for years! Which means probably a lot of people have thought this, and clearly Disney and HBO, as you point out, realized it. But these always crystallize more when someone just lays out the argument.
I feel sort of both ways about the fragmentation of culture. I think it's actually increased polarization because people live in simultaneous but not necessarily overlapping realities. Like, someone's favorite band could be streamed millions of times by millions of people and not only might they be a band I've never heard of, they might be playing music in a genre I've never heard of.
There are obvious problems with all media needing to filter through a few channels, but the media markets are actually more consolidated now than they were before the immense fragmentation of culture. Which is not what I'd have expected!
Disney+ gained audience because it's Disney. As they added more content, more people signed on. That's it.
The binge format is still the preferred mode for many, to the point that it is hurting TV ratings as people just wait until the entire season has aired before they start to watch it. Even live sports ratings are hurting due to streaming services that will allow you to watch any time -- the need to be "in the moment" isn't there anymore.
My favorite part of this article was how you described the way this has changed the social landscape of TV. You are SO right -- if I wanted to see Squid Games now, it's way too late. The buzz is gone. Super interesting!
I watched Squid Games after the initial “buzz” and I still enjoyed it. But I watch TV to entertain myself, not because everyone is talking about the show and I want in on that.
It’s no perfect show but I really enjoyed it. I do admit to a fondness for Korean movies and TV shows. Higher quality content, IMO, although I am sure it is mainly their best content that makes it to the states for consumption.
But I have cancelled Netflix for now, anyway. I’ll probably pick it back up next Winter and see what they have.
I'm not sure exactly the point of the Henry Ford reference, but he didn't invent anything either. He appropriated and streamlined ideas, but the automobile and the combustion engine were both invented by others, as well as the assembly line process. In essence, Ford was the Netflix to the carriage company's Blockbuster.
First show I binged was CNN Headline News during the Gulf War.
Great article, However, TIVO changed everything beginning in 1998-99 and should be given it’s due. And you are so right about the superiority of the British version of House of Cards! And I would add, British shows generally, accessible in the US via Acorn TV and BritBox.
Binging a series long proceeds House of cards. In fact, Netflix was already making that a regular possibility with its DVD by mail plan that long pre-dated its live streaming. You could order a entire season of just about any series and binge watch it. And you could do the same thing at Blockbuster for decades before that.
Thanks for telling me about Golden Years! I always thought I missed the final episode. Now I will check out the Wikipedia page!
I thought you implied the ending was on the Wikipedia page. It just says that they ended without a conclusion. Sigh.
I began to subscribe to Netflix the first year. It was an existence. I loved it, and I love the idea that just because music and then film could move to a digital format on a disk that could be mailed up and did everything. But Netflix is over with and one of the best examples of this is the super lame reviews or descriptions that they give their offerings instead of telling potential viewers Something about the plot, something like an elevator pitch, such as , “ Harrison Ford returns in the long, awaited sequel to blade runner with a whole new set of problems.”
Now we get, “ supernatural thriller, created by Augustine, Martinez and Carlos Monteiro features Carla Campra.”
So what’s wrong with this? Well, first of all doesn’t tell me anything about what I’m about ready to watch and next worst is how elitist it is because if I don’t know who Augustine Martinez and Carlos Monteiro are then I guess I’m shit out of luck
It says if they’ve hired a fifth grader to do their blurbs, they don’t even care enough about their product to do any kind of promotion
For five dollars a month I get PBS all the live long day.. and for next to nothing, I get Amazon, free delivery, free, movies, free music.
None of the solutions are perfect and since most of us have affectively been shut in since Covid, we’ve all probably ran through all the good movies that we like, according to our tastes.