There has been a massive shift in viewing trends over the past 5 years due to the emergence of streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. Although most people suspected that viewing habits have been changing drastically when it comes to the younger generation, no one was quite sure about the real impact in terms of numbers. A recent study conducted by Deloitte put all these points in perspective by revealing the shift from traditional viewing habits to straight out binge-watching.
Bring on the shows
The Digital Democracy Survey recently blew the lid off the mysteries of marathon viewing sessions by the younger generation to reveal just how dramatically the habits have shifted in recent years.
According to the study, nearly 73% of the viewers in America have binge-watched content at some point in the past two years. This trend is obviously a lot more popular among younger viewers as the following numbers clearly suggest.
A staggering 90% of all millennials and 87% of all Gen Z members have taken to binge-watching lately. When examining the regularity of these binge-watching sessions, the study shows us that 40% of the millennials do so on a weekly basis, and every session roughly lasts about six episodes, or five individual episodes.
The study also highlighted the change in trend in terms of the medium used to watch television, with only half the millennials and Gen Z using a television set instead of a digital device.
Television still remains important for Gen X-ers who use it 60% of the time, while Baby Boomers use it most of the time (80%).
What does this mean for television?
Recently, choice words were exchanged between Tim League, the founder of the Alamo Drafthouse, and Reed Hastings, the CEO of Netflix, regarding the future of cinema.
Hastings seemed to suggest that movie theatres haven’t innovated on the movie-going experience in over 30 years, and have changed nothing more than the flavour of popcorn.
In retort, League seemed to point out that the experience of watching a movie on the grandest stage possible would never compare to binge-watching films and shows on your mobile phones on your way to work. Both points have merit, as do the mediums themselves.
