The Weekly Release TV Model is Experiencing a Huge Revival

Jennifer Coolidge in
Jennifer Coolidge in "The White Lotus"

Binge-watching became a new normal in recent years, but it’s no longer as popular as it used to be. Unlike Netflix, most other streamers are relying on a weekly release model to create buzz for their TV shows, and this strategy is definitely working.

HBO

HBO’s shows are the most successful example of the weekly revival boom. They managed to start a conversation with many of their recent shows, with the final season of Succession being the most recent example.

The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and House of the Dragon also managed to build a huge fanbase on social media, with fans tuning in for each new episode and discussing it online week after week.

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ introduced a hybrid model, walking a fine line between binging and weekly releases. The three-episode premiere of their shows is usually followed by the weekly release of the remaining episodes, and Ted Lasso is the most popular example of building the buzz this way.

Amazon

Amazon Prime Video has long relied on the binge-watching model, but the release schedule of its shows is getting more experimental. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is one of their most successful shows to kick off with full-season releases before switching to weekly ones. As for the recent hits, Daisy Jones & The Six probably wouldn’t get as much buzz if all the episodes were released at once.