Now that the FCC has approved net neutrality and we don’t have to worry about Comcast or whoever shaking down Netflix for protection money, there’s nothing stopping Joe or Jane Q. Couchpotato (they changed it from Couchpotatosky at Ellis Island) from mainlining as much TV as possible given the stupid laws of dumb old physics. And Netflix knows exactly how to keep all us Dorito-sated sacks of glazed-over apathy on the couch: It’s even determined the precise dosage it needs to get us hooked on different TV shows, information it shared today with The Hollywood Reporter.
Netflix analyzed its own internal data to determine the “hooked episode” of various TV series, the point at which 70 percent of viewers go on to finish at least one season of a show. The most addictive shows appear to be Breaking Bad, Bates Motel, Scandal, Sons Of Anarchy, Suits, The Killing, and The Walking Dead, all of which hooked 70 percent of viewers after just two episodes. The nuanced character drama of Mad Men takes a little longer with a six-episode average, and Arrow and How I Met Your Mother are soft as crushed-up baby aspirin at eight episodes apiece. The study also showed that, on average, Australians and New Zealanders took an episode or two longer than anyone else to get addicted to shows, and the Dutch were especially prone to binge-watching. (Wonder why.)
Talking about the study, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos says:
Given the precious nature of primetime slots on traditional TV, a series pilot is arguably the most important point in the life of the show. However, in our research of more than 20 shows across 16 markets, we found that no one was ever hooked on the pilot. This gives us confidence that giving our members all episodes at once is more aligned with how fans are made.
A full list of shows included in Netflix’s survey is below.
1. Arrow, Episode 8*
2. Bates Motel, Episode 2
3. Better Call Saul, Episode 4*
4. Bloodline, Episode 4
5. BoJack Horseman, Episode 5
6. Breaking Bad, Episode 2*
7. Daredevil, Episode 5
8. Dexter, Episode 3*
9. Gossip Girl, Episode 3
10. Grace & Frankie, Episode 4
11. How I Met Your Mother, Episode 8
12. House Of Cards, Episode 3*
13. Mad Men, Episode 6*
14. Marco Polo, Episode 3
15. Orange Is The New Black, Episode 3
16. Once Upon A Time, Episode 6
17. Pretty Little Liars, Episode 4
18. Scandal, Episode 2
19. Sense8, Episode 3*
20. Sons Of Anarchy, Episode 2*
21. Suits, Episode 2*
22. The Blacklist, Episode 6*
23. The Killing, Episode 2
24. The Walking Dead, Episode 2*
25. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Episode 4
*Show not available in all territories