http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118062345
I saw this article linked on the comment section of a recent Ken Levine blog, discussing the possibility that serialized dramas are prone to "binge viewing": the practice of intentionally not watching episodes as they air so that they can be watched together in a bunch at a later date. The article admits that there is no way of knowing currently how widespread this practice is, so I don't know if it is common enough to significantly lower the ratings of serialized programs - even when they include +7 DVR. I guess though if I were a Nielsen family, and really wanted LR to stay on the air, I would try to watch it live and binge on something else. I admit that this is a common practice of my own; instead of watching 1 episode a week of 4 or 5 serialized dramas, I would rather save them all up, and then watch 4 or 5 episodes in one long marathon session. Most recently I did that with the second season of "Boss", and this weekend I am making my way through the first 4 (or is it 5?) episodes of "Hunted". I have all but the first episode of "Copper" and the whole second season of "Hell on Wheels" on my DVR waiting for me to get in the mood to watch them (maybe over the Christmas holidays) and most of this season of "Boardwalk Empire". Sometimes I do this and then never get around to watching them, but usually I do. I am less likely to do this with what I consider to be the more premium dramas, especially if I am watching them with my daughter, who is young enough that she likes to get on her FB or Twitter or whatever and talk with her friends about shows right after (sometimes while) they air, and is paranoid about spoliers. "Dexter", "Homeland", "Game of Thrones" and "Breaking Bad" are in this category. We also watch "Fringe" together, but since she is a young woman she is often out on Friday nights with her friends, so those often pile up a bit until she has time to watch them with me (I see I have the last 2 episodes on my DVR just now - a couple of weeks ago we watched three in a row). She is not a big "Mad Men" girl, so even though I love that show, I sometimes make myself let three or four of those build up, just because it is so enjoyable to watch them in a binge. I have been watching "Last Resort" and "Revolution" On Demand this season, because they both often conflict with other programs I am recording, and usually at least one is a sports event. In both of those cases I usually go a couple of weeks without watching them, then catch up with 2 or 3 (I caught up with both yesterday). -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
