Netflix Knows When You Get Hooked

In crunching through viewership numbers for more than two dozen TV shows Netflix has developed a clear understanding of which specific episode grabbed the viewers and hooked them enough to finish the season.

Using this data helps Netflix to validate the strategy of releasing a whole season at one time. None of the shows Netflix studied hooked viewers with the pilot and in two cases, “Arrow” and “How I Met Your Mother” it didn’t happen until episode 8.

“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,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said. “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.”

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 http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/netflix-tv-show-data-viewer-episode-study-1201600746/