Streaming Platforms vs. Traditional TV: How Binge-Watching is Changing Entertainment

The days of waiting for your favorite TV show to play a new episode are long gone. 

Instead of painstakingly anticipating the next segment to come through once a week, we can now watch an entire season (…or several) in one fowl swoop, all at the click of a button. 

The online streaming service market has boomed in recent years, with platforms like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+ all offering consumers a uniquely packaged assortment of TV shows and movies that satiate global audiences’ demand for engaging, high-accessibility content to consume. 

Binge-watching is a very modern pastime that just about all of us are familiar with. 

Going on a series spree for hours, days, or even weeks at a time can be a fun activity when you’re feeling down or need a distraction from the sobering reality of everyday life—but how is it affecting us as a culture? 

Binge-watching has reshaped the way we consume entertainment, and as a result, the way consumer psychology operates, too. Here, we’ll dissect the impact of binging media in a current-day context and explore the various ways in which it is changing how content is both produced and consumed. 

The appeal of binge-watching as opposed to traditional TV

It’s hard not to see the appeal of binge-watching. It’s convenient, accessible, and entreaties the parts of us most prone to self-indulgence. 

But there are also more practical elements to why binge-watching is appealing to us. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it makes sense that people are seeking out the fast-hit dopamine rush of cycling through so many consecutive episodes at once as opposed to spreading them out over a long period of time. The latter isn’t necessary nor convenient in today’s age. 

People’s attention spans have also decreased over time, prompting consumer viewership to crave immediate gratification where possible. 

The seamless scrolling of social media has trained our brains to feel comfortable with consuming not only multiple content streams at once but constantly refreshing content streams, both of which are boxes that binge-watching tick. 

Traditional TV, on the other hand, requires the express lane-minded consumer to wait patiently in between episode releases—something that few people have the time or energy for today. 

How content production and marketing are changing over time 

One of the biggest changes in how TV content has changed due to streaming platforms versus traditional TV is the sheer abundance of content that these modern platforms offer. 

The TV production industry has exploded in recent years, bringing forth slews of action-packed, extremely diverse shows and movies that make binging almost essential to getting through it all. 

The content production market has heard the demands of content-hungry consumers and responded robustly, offering a near-endless rotation of fresh entertainment for people to watch from the comfort and convenience of their own homes. This has, in a sense, desensitized us to the concept of binge-watching in general, changing the way we perceive consumption excess to a point of total normalization. 

The marketing aspect of TV content production has also shifted in this regard. The process of pitching new shows (or reboots of old ones) to consumers now often involves merging intense childhood nostalgia with the benefit of bringing it into a more accessible modern context. 

Current streaming platform marketing campaigns now also use their unique selection of TV shows and movies to appeal to different crowds. 

With such a high level of streaming platform competition, companies must use the one thing that sets them apart from others: the rights to show the entertainment content they show. For this reason, streaming platforms must cultivate a deep knowledge of the niche audience they are appealing to in order to successfully convert them into active consumers, whereas traditional TV marketing would instead need to target as broad an audience as possible in order to attract enough viewers. 

What is the social and psychological impact of binge-watching entertainment? 

It is often during seasons of loneliness or escapism that we reach for the screen and smother ourselves in a world outside of our own—and it often works, if only for while we remain glued to the story we’ve chosen to follow. Binge-watching is reshaping social and cultural behavior, and streaming platforms need to remain aware of its impact if they are to continue offering ethical streaming services to the public. 

While binging a beloved show can feel comforting and soothing at times, it can also have an adverse impact on mental health if consumers are not careful. This can contribute to:

• Social isolation: When you get lost in a TV show, it can disconnect you from real life.

• Increased anxiety: Certain show genres, such as thrillers, horrors, and action-adventures, can contribute to increased anxiety and stress levels without moderation.

• Sedentary behavior: It’s hard to consume TV content when you’re on the go. Binging can contribute to sedentary behavior that keeps consumers locked into static positions for long periods of time.

• Disrupted sleep: When you’re waist-deep in a 16-season show, turning off the light and going to bed feels nearly impossible. This can prevent people from practicing a healthy sleep routine. 

These are all aspects of consumer behavior, psychology, and culture that streaming platforms need to consider, where traditional TV programs from the past might not have needed to factor in with such intensity. Even though TV movies and series can still contribute to all of the above, the lack of access to immediately playing next episodes can make entertainment more digestible. 

However, as data on audience media consumption and behavior is uncovered, streaming platforms are evolving to meet these needs more effectively. 

Conclusion 

Binge-watching is an era-defining aspect of modern consumer culture. From social media to TV series and even YouTube videos of players having fun at sites like Black Lotus, we are never lacking for entertainment, and this sets the current content market apart from previous decades of television considerably. 

Today’s streaming platforms are placing an enhanced importance on content range and diversity, as well as high-level accessibility and niche audience targeting. As the visual entertainment industry continues to evolve, we can expect to see both of these aspects of consumer culture to mature.