Netflix users could be set to see a massive change to the way they watch their favourite shows, as the streaming service plans to axe a popular feature. Binge watching is a popular way for many to pass the time, especially when it comes to new seasons of favourite TV shows being released - but this might not be possible for many in the future.
The plans will see Netflix stop dropping whole seasons in one go, on release day. Previously, the likes of The Witcher, Bridgerton and Sex Education have all been released in one sitting, however when Stranger Things 4 was dropped in two instalments, it was clear that the streaming site wasn't afraid to experiment with other ways of watching.
As The Liverpool Echo reports, bingeing could soon be a thing of the past as Netflix considers releasing weekly episodes instead. Puck reported that Netflix's co-founder Reed Hastings "has seemed unwilling to pivot off the binge mode" in the past but "now, it appears, he does".
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It comes as reports suggest that Netflix is looking for new ways to retain subscribers and hopes that, by dropping shows on a weekly basis rather than in one go, it will mean less people will subscribe just to binge a series before unsubscribing again. Instead, they will need to remain a paying customer in order to watch all of the episodes in a series - though, they could always wait for all episodes to be released and binge them then (if they don't mind the possibility of spoilers that is).
Entertainment industry legend Bob Lefsetz predicts that Netflix is putting itself in danger with the move. He said: "This is how the music business got in trouble, by ignoring its customers in search of an ever-growing bottom line”.
He added: "In the digital world, in the internet world, you give the people what they want or you die." Over a million customers are believed to have left the platform between April and July of this year.
Netflix also recently announced it would be adding a new tier to the platform where customers could choose to watch ads for a cheaper subscription fee. The new advert-tier is expected to cost between £6 and £8 per month.
Netflix is also trying to clamp down on households sharing passwords with family and friends, meaning more people will have to create their own accounts.
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