You probably remember how exciting it was when streaming services became all the rage and a little something called “binge-watching” was invented. Suddenly, we could watch entire seasons and series of existing TV shows in days.
And then, once streaming services started releasing their own original series, it became possible to watch a whole season of a brand new show from beginning to end without having to wait a week between episodes. It was, to put it lightly, very cool, and totally changed the face of television consumption.
But now, a decade or so later, we’re starting to see pushback against this TV-watching practice. Slowly, streaming services are starting to release shows in ways that actively discourage and disable binge-watching. Shows like Wanda Vision and Ted Lasso, huge pop culture phenomenons, are being released one or a few episodes at a time, almost like the old days.
Why might companies be opting for this? Well, one optimistic view might suggest that they’re pushing back against the unhealthy practice of binge-watching that’s bad for our eyes, bodies, and arguably our souls. Although it may be more likely that they just know it can increase hype and maximize impact. It remains to be seen if this trend continues.
