TV Watching: From Pleasure to Chore
A New Era of Television: From Casual Watching to Intentional Bingeing
A young woman I know recently ended a short-lived relationship but surprisingly called it a success. “He introduced me to some amazing Amazon Prime series,” she shared. “And he got me hooked on Derry Girls.”
Derry Girls, a hilarious British comedy set in 1990s Northern Ireland, is just one of over 600 scripted TV shows currently available on various streaming platforms. With such an overwhelming selection, it’s easy to miss out on hidden gems unless you actively search for them. That’s why the question “What are you watching?” has become the new icebreaker on first dates, replacing the classic “What’s your sign?”
Gone are the days of mindlessly flipping through channels. Watching television in 2024 requires intentionality. You need to know exactly what you want to watch and where to find it, often starting with a Google search. The process has become so complex that it’s now common to hear phrases like “What was that show we wanted to see again?” followed by “Which streaming service is it on?” and ending with an exasperated “Do we even have that one?”
If you happen to be at my house, you’ll likely hear a colorful expletive before every mention of a show, streaming service, or episode. It’s a testament to the frustration and confusion that this new era of television has brought.
But it’s not just the profanity-inducing inconvenience that plagues viewers. There’s also the constant pressure to keep up with the latest shows. A friend of mine recently confessed, “I’m way behind on my TV stuff. I need to catch up on The Crown and I’m working my way through The Gilded Age. I feel bad about not watching Better Call Saul, but I don’t want to keep adding shows to my list and then failing to keep up.”
Terms like “working my way through,” “way behind,” “feel bad,” “need to catch up,” and “failing” have become synonymous with watching TV. It’s no longer a mindless activity but a task that requires effort and commitment. Watching television shows now finds its place on “To Do” lists alongside tax returns and colonoscopies.
The Rise of Streaming and the Transformation of Show Business
Peter Biskind’s captivating book, Pandora’s Box: How Guts, Guile, and Greed Upended TV, delves into the fascinating journey from casual TV watching to the binge-watching phenomenon. Biskind, known for his insightful books on the entertainment industry, takes readers on a sweeping, gossipy, and analytical ride through the world of television.
The book explores how HBO’s success as a premium subscription service inspired the birth of streaming giants like Netflix. It also delves into the impact of the #MeToo movement on Hollywood’s workplace culture and the creative revolution that unleashed iconic shows like The Sopranos, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad.
Biskind masterfully weaves together the stories of executives, creators, and the financial forces that shaped the television landscape. He turns the behind-the-scenes drama into a captivating narrative, revealing the complex relationships and power struggles that defined the industry.
In Hollywood, it’s often said that audiences aren’t interested in the inner workings of show business. However, Biskind proves this notion wrong by transforming the intricacies of the industry into compelling boardroom sagas. The book sheds light on the tense relationship between former HBO president Richard Plepler and John Stankey, the executive overseeing Warner Bros. after its acquisition by AT&T. Their story becomes gripping because we know how it ends: AT&T’s hasty retreat, Discovery Channel’s intervention, and our own confusion about which streaming service to choose.
The subtitle of Biskind’s book is “How Guts, Guile, and Greed Upended TV,” but let’s be honest: while guts and guile are admirable, it’s greed that truly fuels the show business engine. The allure of millions of subscribers paying monthly fees for the mere possibility of watching a show on a streaming service was irresistible.
Show business has always been a cutthroat industry, with movies and TV shows competing for box office success or prime-time ratings. However, the advent of streaming television and the influx of easy money from Wall Street changed the game. Biskind’s book vividly portrays the optimism and excesses of this era, where talent was lavishly rewarded, streaming services were built with no expense spared, and series with astronomical budgets were produced.
The Unraveling of the Streaming Empire
Yet, as with any gold rush, the euphoria eventually fades. In 2022, Netflix experienced its first decline in subscriptions, signaling a turning point. This setback triggered a seven-month labor work stoppage, a cooler reception from Wall Street, and a realization that there is a limit to how many streaming services audiences are willing to pay for.
As a result, major studios faced layoffs, production cutbacks, and rampant merger and selloff rumors. The once-crowded streaming landscape is expected to shrink, with only a handful of services surviving the shakeout. Even streaming giants like Amazon and Netflix have introduced ad-supported tiers, signaling a return to the old business model.
Biskind’s book, while a thrilling account of the industry’s recent past, feels like a prelude to the real story. The true drama lies in how show business adapts to the new financial constraints and the contraction of the entire industry. If the fat years were defined by “guts, guile, and greed,” the sequel, Pandora’s Box II: Revenge of the Shareholders, promises to be even more audacious, cunning, and potentially a great television series—if you can find it.
Pandora’s Box: How Guts, Guile, and Greed Upended TV
by Peter Biskind
William Morrow, 400 pp., $32.50
Rob Long is an author, screenwriter, and executive producer.
How has the rise of streaming platforms and binge-watching changed the way we consume television?
Ity of accessing unlimited content is a dream come true for streaming platforms. It has transformed the way we consume television and has given rise to the phenomenon of binge-watching.
Binge-watching is defined as the act of watching multiple episodes of a television series in rapid succession, often for hours on end. It allows viewers to fully immerse themselves in the storylines and characters, creating a more immersive and engaging experience. It has become a cultural phenomenon, with entire weekends dedicated to marathon sessions of a favorite show.
The rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu has made binge-watching more accessible than ever before. These platforms offer a vast library of content, from classic shows to new releases, allowing viewers to explore a wide range of genres and styles. The convenience of streaming services means that viewers no longer have to wait for their favorite show to air on television or purchase DVDs. Instead, they can watch what they want, when they want, with just a few clicks.
This shift in how we watch television has had significant implications for the entertainment industry. Traditional networks are no longer the sole gatekeepers of content, and streaming platforms have disrupted the traditional television model. This has allowed for more diverse and niche programming, as creators are not bound by the constraints of network television.
The success of streaming platforms has also led to a shift in the types of stories being told. Breaking Bad and The Sopranos are prime examples of complex, morally ambiguous protagonists that have become synonymous with the golden age of television. Audiences are no longer satisfied with one-dimensional characters and straightforward narratives. They crave depth and complexity, and streaming platforms have capitalized on this demand.
However, there are downsides to the binge-watching culture. With so much content available at our fingertips, it can be overwhelming to decide what to watch. Viewers can easily get lost in the endless scroll of options, spending more time searching for something to watch than actually watching. Additionally, binge-watching can lead to a lack of productivity and physical inactivity. Spending hours sitting in front of a screen can have negative effects on our health and well-being.
Despite these drawbacks, binge-watching has become a significant part of our entertainment culture. It has revolutionized the way we consume television, allowing us to become fully immersed in the stories and characters we love. The future of television lies in the hands of streaming platforms, and it will be interesting to see how they continue to shape the industry.
In conclusion, the rise of streaming platforms and binge-watching has transformed the way we watch television. It has given viewers more control and access to a wide range of content. However, it has also created a culture of intentional watching and a constant need to keep up with the latest shows. The entertainment industry has been forever changed by this new era of television, and it will be fascinating to see what the future holds.
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