It's no secret that Netflix has changed the way that viewers watch TV.
The service notoriously introduced binge-watching to television audiences, creating long weekends where viewers do nothing but watch the same show, usually devouring full seasons in just a few sittings.
However, believe it or not, other series on the service generally get watched less, more like traditional television. Now, the service has looked at global viewer behaviors to come up with its "Binge Scale" to find out which shows fall into the binge categories the most and which ones get savored.
The company studied more than 100 TV shows on its service in nearly 200 countries. Netflix discovered that the show's content plays into how quickly a season of a series gets watched. It determined that binge-watching usually means watching a full season of a series in a week or less. Shows like Sense8, Orphan Black and The 100 are the kind that grab viewers early in their seasons, meaning that binge sessions are likely for those. The same goes for horror and thriller series such as The Walking Dead, American Horror Story and The Fall. Several comedy series also fall into the binge-worthy category, including Orange is the New Black, Nurse Jackie and Grace and Frankie.
Those shows that have more complex stories, though, generally get viewed at a slower pace. This includes political dramas such as Homeland, The West Wing and House of Cards, as well as period pieces such as Peaky Blinders, The Americans and Mad Men. Several comedies with flawed characters also fall into the savor category, including BoJack Horseman, Arrested Development, Wet Hot American Summer and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
"As The Binge Scale indicates, the viewing experience of a series can range from the emotional to the thought-provoking," Netflix Vice President of original content Cindy Holland said in a press release. "Netflix helps you to find a series to binge no matter your mood or occasion, and the freedom to watch that series at your own pace — whether that's to appreciate the drama of Bloodline or power through Orange is the New Black."
Although Netflix releases full seasons of shows on the same day, it's interesting that viewers don't always take the opportunity to binge-watch every series on the service. It's probably also likely that viewers aren't even aware of how they make a decision to binge-watch or savor a show based on its content.
