Netflix finds TV binge watchers more common than you think
Couch potatoes of the world, unite. A study shows that 61 percent of TV streamers binge-watch regularly -- and that half of bingers want company when they indulge.
We've all been there -- sitting on the couch, finding a great show, and watching as many of its episodes as possible in one sitting. And a new study seems to prove it's becoming awfully commonplace.
Netflix on Friday released the results of a survey conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive, revealing that 61 percent of 1,500 TV streamers binge-watch shows at least every few weeks. So what precisely is binge-watching? According to the poll, 73 percent of respondents say it's watching between two and six episodes of the same TV show in a single sitting.
As someone who's been a "binge watcher" on more than one occasion, I can say for sure that I sometimes feel guilt; I could be doing other things. But there's that side of me that feels just fine, thanks, with my laziness. And according to Netflix's study, I'm not alone: 73 percent of survey respondents said that they have "positive feelings towards binge watching."
Binge watching is also a social undertaking, with 51 percent of people saying that if they're going on a binge, they want someone with them.
One other interesting note: 80 percent of TV streamers say they'd rather watch a good TV show than check out what friends are up to on social networks.