Binge Watching: Trends, Effects, Definitions

Introduction

Media consumption has changed dramatically over the years and it is very evident which can be seen through how viewers have shifted from consuming traditional broadcast channels towards online video consumption or online streaming. In the good old days, people enjoyed viewing shows according to the schedule and sequence in which the networks had them broadcasted. But with the emergence of technology, online consumption medium has given more control to the viewers so that they can now determine their own viewing schedule through on-demand programming or through digital video recorders. Because of these new trends, new patterns of media consumption have emerged. A new trend has emerged and can be seen amongst youngsters is “binge-watching”.

Defining Binge-Watching: Various Perspectives

There are many definitions of what binge-watching means. According to the Oxford Dictionary, it refers “to watching multiple episodes of a television program in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming”. Another definition proposed by Digital Democracy Survey is “watching three or more episodes of a TV series in one sitting”. Netflix and Harris Interactive offer another definition of binge-watching as “watching between 2-6 episodes of the same TV show in one sitting”. A study done by Nielsen (2013) mentions that around 88 and 70 percent of Netflix and Hulu users reported watching at least three episodes of the same TV show or series in one day.

Another study done by Schweidel and Moe (2016) proposes a broad definition of binge-watching as the maximum amount of episodes of a television series a person consumes in a short period. They characterize binge-watching by two elements: Firstly, the consumption rate which can happen in a single session or across multiple sessions within a short span of time. Secondly, people consume multiple episodes of the same series. Studies have defined binge-watching in terms of the number of episodes watched but no definition has mentioned the amount of time spent to be considered as binge-watching. From the above definitions, it be has been proposed by Satyendra C. Pandey, (2017) that “heavy consumption” can be attributed to watching a minimum of 2-3 episodes of the same series or at least one hour of the same TV series in one sitting. For example, watching at least three episodes of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” in succession in one sitting will be referred to as binge-watching as each episode on average is 23 minutes. But watching at least two episodes of “Money Heist” in one session will also be referred as binge watching as each episode consists of 50-55 minutes. So the repetition of viewing TV shows or series quickly ultimately can be attributed as binge-watching behavior (Example- completely watching one season of “Money Heist” over the weekend).

The Pros and Cons of Binge-Watching

So this phenomenon of binge-watching has both pros and cons for every individual. According to Chaudhary, N. (2014) study on “The TV binge: a sickness” it states that binge-watching can be harmful to the overall well-being of a person as it is very addictive. It can result in loneliness, isolation, and overall lethargicness of the body which can lead to depression or unhappiness and obesity. While Rubin, A.M. (2009), in his study “Uses and gratifications”, states that binge-watching is a form of entertainment that results in the satisfaction of consumer needs and wishes and which may also result in relaxation and overall positive disposition towards life.

Conclusion

Binge-watching is a very recent concept so academically very little research is done on the subject. It is yet to be explored in terms of motivation, the driving factor to viewing behavior, and the resulting outcomes. It is mostly true for college students who form a significant portion of consumers engaging in binge-watching and it has been found that nine out of ten college students use Netflix on a regular basis and binge-watch television shows. 

Works Cited

1. Chaudhary, N. (2014). The TV binge: a sickness. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 3(5), 57-62.
2. Digital Democracy Survey. (n.d.). Retrieved from [URL]
3. Nielsen. (2013). The Digital Consumer: Binge! Binge! Binge! A Look at the Binge Viewing Phenomenon.
4. Pandey, S. C. (2017). Binge Watching: A Brief Review. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 19(9), 17-20.
5. Rubin, A. M. (2009). Uses and gratifications. In International Encyclopedia of Communication (Vol. 12, pp. 5106-5112). Wiley-Blackwell.
6. Schweidel, D. A., & Moe, W. W. (2016). Binge watching and advertising. Journal of Marketing, 80(4), 1-19.