It is no secret that people have shows they enjoy watching. Television series create enjoyment for people by bringing a story to life through the actions and words of a character on the screen. So, when a new series is released, it is important that it gives the audience the best experience possible. Creating an amusing experience for the spectators comes down to many things, but arguably the most important is how it is released. Between single-episode drops and full-season releases, which are better for the show, and which are better for the viewers?
Weekly episodes drum up excitement for the show and keep it relevant for longer. A study completed by Fandom showed that series that release weekly generate 33 percent more engagement during their release period than shows that are released all at once. Along with that, the interaction with the program is sustained for 50 percent longer. In the film industry, time is money, so the longer a show can stay relevant, the more money it has the chance to make.
There is nothing worse than finding a popular new series to watch, only for it to be spoiled when it starts getting good. Weekly episode drops help avoid people spoiling the show, since only a limited number of episodes are available to talk about. With series that are released all at once, it is only a matter of minutes before the whole season is spoiled.
According to data found by Samba TV, 45 percent of households finished a show released all at once, while only 35 percent of households finished shows that dropped weekly. Shows that drop seasons all at once have a higher completion rate, meaning it’s more likely for people to come back and watch the next season of the show. But without people talking about the show and recommending it to others, does the completion rate really matter to creators?
Gradual episode releases create a shared viewing experience and allow fans of the show to come together and discuss the events of the new part. Shows that release episodes weekly have a better chance of becoming well-known, because people enjoy sharing their opinions after the release of each episode. This gives the series more opportunities to be spread by word of mouth, which was found to be the biggest way people find a new show. Data collected by Cable TV found that 95 percent of individuals aged 18-24 started watching a show because it was trending on social media. Meanwhile, 86 percent of all individuals started watching a show because it was recommended to them by a family member. Without word of mouth, it is hard for new shows to become popular, and with gradual releases, people are sharing their new opinions weekly with friends and finding people who agree with them on social media.
When episodes are released weekly, people get to connect with others through the shared viewing experience, which brings the story to life, making the show even more magical to watch. After all, isn’t the whole point of film to create an out-of-world experience for those who choose to spend their time in the new worlds of the characters on the screen?
