Should Netflix Release TV Episodes Weekly? - Blu-ray Forum

kemcha · 12-04-2017, 09:51 PM

It looks like Screenrant hits again, they're making the argument about whether the streaming service should release episode weekly. Personally, I think it's a terrible idea.

While there are valid arguments for it, I think it's a terrible idea because there are too many fans of TV shows who don't have the time to sit down and devote an hour every week to watching a TV series, complete with commercials or streaming problems. Personally, I don't watch broadcast television or devote myself to plopping down in front of a computer or a TV set, taking time away from something else I should be doing.

When it comes to TV shows, I just don't watch them when they're broadcast. I typically prefer to buy the boxed set and watch the season in one viewing. I did this with many shows that became my favorites. Leverage, NCIS, Blue Bloods, firefly, Bones, Law and Order and many others. I suspect that many other fans of TV shows do the same.

With a streaming service? Sorry. But I'm not going to pay for a streaming service if they're going to a broadcast television weekly format. If I wanted that, I'll just watch some other show that I already for for with a cable subscription service.

https://screenrant.com/netflix-weekl...s-binge-watch/

This seems to always be the same com,plaint from producers, directors, actors and cast who work on such TV shows who are always blasting and complaining about streaming services like Netflix who are all against binge watching TV shows.

Why?

What difference does it make whether you watch a TV series week to week or sit down and binge watch the entire series. If there's a TV show I like, I've been known to sit down and watch a TV series straight through. For instance, I just finished a two week period of binge watching the Bewitched TV series of all eight seasons. It does't matter how you watch your favorite TV series, you don't miss anything, other than poor streaming service or being forced to pay for extra months of Netflix.

many TV show fans are going to wait until the entire series is released and then pay for a single monthly subscription.

kevin87 · 12-04-2017, 10:37 PM

Netflix has done this before though. The Canadian show Between aired weekly in Canada and Netflix put each episode up the following day, but with season 2 it returned to the all-episodes-at-once format. Chelsea also is updated with a new episode every Friday, but that's a talk show so it has to be a weekly thing.

Just like with Between, if it was weekly, I would just wait until they've all been added to start watching. I do that with the majority of shows on air right now anyway, very few do I actually watch on a week-by-week basis, I save about 90% of them up and watch when the season is over. If they want to do that with shows that are currently airing (though, isn't that why people subscribe to Hulu?) or with their acquired shows like Peaky Blinders and stuff where the US gets it the day after it airs in the original country that would be somewhat acceptable, but their originals need to be added all at once.

crude · 12-04-2017, 11:00 PM

If it doesnt change the quality which i doubt im up for this. But im afraid quality gets affected.

KRW1 · 12-04-2017, 11:06 PM

Why? I only watch them weekly anyway, so it makes no difference to me and people can binge if they want.

kidglov3s · 12-05-2017, 02:14 AM

I watched MST3K weekly. That was how I best remembered enjoying it. I think weekly releases of MST3K would be fun.

Destinys Memory · 12-05-2017, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRW1

Why? I only watch them weekly anyway, so it makes no difference to me and people can binge if they want.

It's easier to have a discourse with other people when a series is released on a schedule. With a series like Game of Thrones, you can talk about episodes as they are airing/the day after, but it's more difficult to discuss a series like Stranger Things because people aren't watching at the same time. So you have to walk on eggshells or people will whine about ''Spoilers!" and "I haven't gotten to that episode yet!" etc.

atlantajoseph · 12-05-2017, 02:35 AM

Discussing Twin Peaks S3 with other fans on FB each week after the show aired was an amazing communal experience. People shared all kinds of intriguing theories and brought whole new levels of insight and fun to the experience.

Something is lost when whole seasons of episodes are dumped at once IMHO.

Zodiac-Mindwarp · 12-05-2017, 02:46 AM

I really like the idea of being able to binge watch when I am in the mood.

If I feel like stretching things out and only watching a episode or 2 at a time that is my choice, and I prefer to have it as my choice.

Monterey Jack · 12-05-2017, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destinys Memory

It's easier to have a discourse with other people when a series is released on a schedule. With a series like Game of Thrones, you can talk about episodes as they are airing/the day after, but it's more difficult to discuss a series like Stranger Things because people aren't watching at the same time. So you have to walk on eggshells or people will whine about ''Spoilers!" and "I haven't gotten to that episode yet!" etc.

Exactly this...when every episode of a show is dumped on a single date, there ARE going to be those hard-core fans who gulp down the entire season in one go, thus anyone who wants to spread the season out and savor it will likely find it very difficult to avoid spoilers.

I had to go on Facebook and beg everyone I'm friends with not to discuss any of the second season of Stranger Things as I was rationing the episodes out two per day for the last few days of October. When a show is released piecemeal, everyone is on the same schedule, and you can simply say, "I haven't watched this week's episode yet, so please don't tell me what happens".

Monterey Jack · 12-05-2017, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atlantajoseph

Discussing Twin Peaks S3 with other fans on FB each week after the show aired was an amazing communal experience. People shared all kinds of intriguing theories and brought whole new levels of insight and fun to the experience.

Watching Lost in the pre-binging era was like this...SO many fascinating discussions about What It All Meant that went on for years and years. Nowadays, it'd all be dumped on Netflix in one go, and a lot of that long-simmering mystery would have been...well, lost.

Chiefy · 12-05-2017, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destinys Memory

It's easier to have a discourse with other people when a series is released on a schedule. With a series like Game of Thrones, you can talk about episodes as they are airing/the day after, but it's more difficult to discuss a series like Stranger Things because people aren't watching at the same time. So you have to walk on eggshells or people will whine about ''Spoilers!" and "I haven't gotten to that episode yet!" etc.

I don't think it's accurate to say that people are "whining" about not wanting to have shows they enjoy be spoiled. I had a co-worker who always discussed shows and movies with someone within earshot, and she ruined a few for me. I asked her to let me know beforehand so I could put on headphones. It's common courtesy.

Monterey Jack · 12-05-2017, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefy

I don't think it's accurate to say that people are "whining" about not wanting to have shows they enjoy be spoiled. I had a co-worker who always discussed shows and movies with someone within earshot, and she ruined a few for me. I asked her to let me know beforehand so I could put on headphones. It's common courtesy.

I remember one of my mother's friends recently grabbing me by the elbow at work and blatantly spoiling a recent death on The Walking Dead with narry a "Did you see the latest Walking Dead...?" warning beforehand.

I mildly went off on her about it, which I felt a little bad about, but GOD...THINK FIRST!!!

kemcha · 12-05-2017, 01:01 PM

The thing is, this is all started with Josh Whedon lamenting about how he hates it when people binge watching their favorite television shows. While I'm sure some streaming services have tried weekly approaches before, in the end, many feel that if a service wants to do the weekly thing then they would rather watch something else that they already pay a cable subscription service for.

For me, I wouldn't tune in week to week just to watch a TV series on Netflix. I'd just wait until they released the last episode of the season and still binge watch the series. Either that or watch it on a pirate streaming service.

Darev · 12-05-2017, 03:48 PM

I'd rather have all of the episodes available on day one so I could watch at my own pace.

The ONE streaming show I wanted to see badly enough that I would put up with weekly episodes was 11/22/63 on Hulu. I liked the show enough to not want to wait it out and watch it in a long session. For me, it would have been better to see it all at once.

I feel the story's "flow" is broken up when you release weekly and it's one long story.
Weekly works for some shows and sitcoms (Scorpion / Big Bang Theory)....not so much for others (Daredevel / Jessica Jones) where the episodes flow right into one another.

KRW1 · 12-05-2017, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destinys Memory

It's easier to have a discourse with other people when a series is released on a schedule. With a series like Game of Thrones, you can talk about episodes as they are airing/the day after, but it's more difficult to discuss a series like Stranger Things because people aren't watching at the same time. So you have to walk on eggshells or people will whine about ''Spoilers!" and "I haven't gotten to that episode yet!" etc.

Yeah, I can sort of see that. I do find it easy to avoid spoilers though, and just quickly tell people which episode I'm on if a show does come up!

I don't see it as a big issue though, and even with broadcast TV, I don't think anyone I know watches it live, it's all on catch up, so you can't assume someone has seen the latest Walking Dead/Thrones as they might not have watched it yet.

Always ask!

I can't see Netflix ever changing it's model though. I see other companies following suit if anything. In the UK, the BBC has taken to dumping all episodes of some shows on the Iplayer and broadcasting one a week. It's the future!

Buscemi · 12-05-2017, 07:53 PM

Depends on the show. I'd be fine with MST3K doing weekly (episodes are too long to binge) but a show like Lady Dynamite needs to be binged as so much happens in an episode that you need to be fresh to really understand it.

An older show like Twin Peaks (I haven't seen Season 3) has to be binged due to the clues. I feel the show was canceled due to ABC's erratic scheduling, leading audiences to forget important details as an episode hadn't been aired in a month.

Plot of the week shows would be fine weekly as they just play out like little morsels. A binge is nice but daily or weekly's good too. Same with competition shows.

InuYashaCrusade · 12-05-2017, 10:32 PM

I don't even like Netflix splitting seasons up like what happened with Fuller House Season 3 this year. I feel like I've been waiting years for the remainder of the season, especially with the cliffhanger. So, no, they shouldn't do weekly episodes.

Captain Flint · 12-05-2017, 11:58 PM

No, Netflix should stick with dumping entire seasons at once. They're doing their own thing, stick to it.

Hucksta G · 12-06-2017, 12:06 AM

I'm happy with the way things are at the moment.

ElectricPeterTork · 12-06-2017, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kemcha

The thing is, this is all started with Josh Whedon lamenting about how he hates it when people binge watching their favorite television shows. While I'm sure some streaming services have tried weekly approaches before, in the end, many feel that if a service wants to do the weekly thing then they would rather watch something else that they already pay a cable subscription service for.

For me, I wouldn't tune in week to week just to watch a TV series on Netflix. I'd just wait until they released the last episode of the season and still binge watch the series. Either that or watch it on a pirate streaming service.

Since TV started coming to DVD, that's pretty much how I've watched shows. Wait until it's released.

And I've never understood this obsession with "Ooh, but we have to talk about it with each other!!!". Fan******y is bad enough as is, now people want to prevent everyone else from just watching a damn show so they can have a week between episodes to formulate their fanwank headcanon?

Edit: I never would have thought that word was censored. It's so innocuous in the US.

12-04-2017, 09:51 PM	#1
kemcha Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Michigan, USA 4K collection:18 Blu-ray collection:344 Blu-ray reviews:18 Trading Score:32	Should Netflix Release TV Episodes Weekly? It looks like Screenrant hits again, they're making the argument about whether the streaming service should release episode weekly. Personally, I think it's a terrible idea. While there are valid arguments for it, I think it's a terrible idea because there are too many fans of TV shows who don't have the time to sit down and devote an hour every week to watching a TV series, complete with commercials or streaming problems. Personally, I don't watch broadcast television or devote myself to plopping down in front of a computer or a TV set, taking time away from something else I should be doing. When it comes to TV shows, I just don't watch them when they're broadcast. I typically prefer to buy the boxed set and watch the season in one viewing. I did this with many shows that became my favorites. Leverage, NCIS, Blue Bloods, firefly, Bones, Law and Order and many others. I suspect that many other fans of TV shows do the same. With a streaming service? Sorry. But I'm not going to pay for a streaming service if they're going to a broadcast television weekly format. If I wanted that, I'll just watch some other show that I already for for with a cable subscription service. https://screenrant.com/netflix-weekl...s-binge-watch/ This seems to always be the same com,plaint from producers, directors, actors and cast who work on such TV shows who are always blasting and complaining about streaming services like Netflix who are all against binge watching TV shows. Why? What difference does it make whether you watch a TV series week to week or sit down and binge watch the entire series. If there's a TV show I like, I've been known to sit down and watch a TV series straight through. For instance, I just finished a two week period of binge watching the Bewitched TV series of all eight seasons. It does't matter how you watch your favorite TV series, you don't miss anything, other than poor streaming service or being forced to pay for extra months of Netflix. many TV show fans are going to wait until the entire series is released and then pay for a single monthly subscription.

12-04-2017, 10:37 PM	#2
kevin87 Blu-ray Baron Top contributor Member since:Feb 2010 Location:Alabama 4K collection:283 Blu-ray collection:1136 DVD collection:46 MA collection:277 Digital collection:216 iTunes collection:1 Trading Score:144	Netflix has done this before though. The Canadian show Between aired weekly in Canada and Netflix put each episode up the following day, but with season 2 it returned to the all-episodes-at-once format. Chelsea also is updated with a new episode every Friday, but that's a talk show so it has to be a weekly thing. Just like with Between, if it was weekly, I would just wait until they've all been added to start watching. I do that with the majority of shows on air right now anyway, very few do I actually watch on a week-by-week basis, I save about 90% of them up and watch when the season is over. If they want to do that with shows that are currently airing (though, isn't that why people subscribe to Hulu?) or with their acquired shows like Peaky Blinders and stuff where the US gets it the day after it airs in the original country that would be somewhat acceptable, but their originals need to be added all at once. Last edited by kevin87; 12-05-2017 at 01:15 AM.

12-04-2017, 11:00 PM	#3
crude Banned Member since:Sep 2017	If it doesnt change the quality which i doubt im up for this. But im afraid quality gets affected.

12-04-2017, 11:06 PM	#4
KRW1 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Oct 2012 Blu-ray collection:45	Why? I only watch them weekly anyway, so it makes no difference to me and people can binge if they want.

12-05-2017, 02:14 AM	#5
kidglov3s Banned Top contributor Member since:Aug 2013 4K collection:14 Blu-ray collection:2124	I watched MST3K weekly. That was how I best remembered enjoying it. I think weekly releases of MST3K would be fun.

12-05-2017, 02:35 AM	#7
atlantajoseph Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2010 Location:Atlanta 4K collection:24 Blu-ray collection:605 DVD collection:291 Digital collection:322 iTunes collection:2 Prime collection:4 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:5	Discussing Twin Peaks S3 with other fans on FB each week after the show aired was an amazing communal experience. People shared all kinds of intriguing theories and brought whole new levels of insight and fun to the experience. Something is lost when whole seasons of episodes are dumped at once IMHO.

12-05-2017, 02:46 AM	#8
Zodiac-Mindwarp Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2014 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:-	I really like the idea of being able to binge watch when I am in the mood. If I feel like stretching things out and only watching a episode or 2 at a time that is my choice, and I prefer to have it as my choice.

12-05-2017, 01:01 PM	#13
kemcha Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Michigan, USA 4K collection:18 Blu-ray collection:344 Blu-ray reviews:18 Trading Score:32	The thing is, this is all started with Josh Whedon lamenting about how he hates it when people binge watching their favorite television shows. While I'm sure some streaming services have tried weekly approaches before, in the end, many feel that if a service wants to do the weekly thing then they would rather watch something else that they already pay a cable subscription service for. For me, I wouldn't tune in week to week just to watch a TV series on Netflix. I'd just wait until they released the last episode of the season and still binge watch the series. Either that or watch it on a pirate streaming service.

12-05-2017, 03:48 PM	#14
Darev Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Apr 2009 4K collection:259 Blu-ray collection:879 Digital collection:2 Blu-ray reviews:2	I'd rather have all of the episodes available on day one so I could watch at my own pace. The ONE streaming show I wanted to see badly enough that I would put up with weekly episodes was 11/22/63 on Hulu. I liked the show enough to not want to wait it out and watch it in a long session. For me, it would have been better to see it all at once. I feel the story's "flow" is broken up when you release weekly and it's one long story. Weekly works for some shows and sitcoms (Scorpion / Big Bang Theory)....not so much for others (Daredevel / Jessica Jones) where the episodes flow right into one another.

12-05-2017, 07:53 PM	#16
Buscemi Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Aug 2013 4K collection:10 Blu-ray collection:3842	Depends on the show. I'd be fine with MST3K doing weekly (episodes are too long to binge) but a show like Lady Dynamite needs to be binged as so much happens in an episode that you need to be fresh to really understand it. An older show like Twin Peaks (I haven't seen Season 3) has to be binged due to the clues. I feel the show was canceled due to ABC's erratic scheduling, leading audiences to forget important details as an episode hadn't been aired in a month. Plot of the week shows would be fine weekly as they just play out like little morsels. A binge is nice but daily or weekly's good too. Same with competition shows.

12-05-2017, 10:32 PM	#17
InuYashaCrusade Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jun 2013 Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Trading Score:17	I don't even like Netflix splitting seasons up like what happened with Fuller House Season 3 this year. I feel like I've been waiting years for the remainder of the season, especially with the cliffhanger. So, no, they shouldn't do weekly episodes.

12-05-2017, 11:58 PM	#18
Captain Flint Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Apr 2015 4K collection:197 Blu-ray collection:710 DVD collection:51 Trading Score:1	No, Netflix should stick with dumping entire seasons at once. They're doing their own thing, stick to it.

12-06-2017, 12:06 AM	#19
Hucksta G Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Location:New Zealand 4K collection:118 Blu-ray collection:999 DVD collection:378 iTunes collection:1 Trading Score:5	I'm happy with the way things are at the moment.

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