Study Shows Netflix Users Have A Strange, New Binge-Watching Routine

Netflix has gotten to know their 86 million members pretty well, and the latest research proves that. The streaming company has released new data that shows how people are binge-watching content, uncovering some strange tendencies amongst people.

By looking at the data of every single member, across 190 countries between January and October of 2016, Netflix were able to uncover some worldwide similarities in how people watch content.

They found that 56% of members take a break between watching new shows that lasts around three days on average. That means chances are after obliterating House of Cards in one sitting, you waited three days or more to kick off another new show.

However, research also found that of that number, 61% of users will watch a movie during those few days that was somehow intrinsically linked to the last show they watched. For example, if you just got to the end of Breaking Bad (you’re a bit late to the party), chances are you went on to watch either Pulp Fiction.

Netflix has coined the term “Binge Pairs,” and while that may seem like a marketing term to try and get more long-term engagement out of their user base, it actually makes sense.

And the rule is different across genres! If you watched a horror series, most users moved onto comedy – maybe like a palette cleanser to cheer you back up.

One sassy transition was from American Horror Story to Mean Girls, while a particularly weird one is going from Stranger Things to Zootopia… Not criticising the film choice – it’s just weird.

“It’s interesting that in this golden age of television, movies are consistently in demand on Netflix,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix. “What we’ve come to figure out is that movies are really an important part of people’s viewing routines and complementary to the way they watch and enjoy TV.”