Streaming leads to a new sport: ‘ binge racing’
NEW YORK — For a special breed of TV superfans, this isn’t streaming. It’s gushing. Behold the spectator sport known as “binge racing,” defined as plowing through a streaming-network series’ full season in less than 24 hours after the release of those episodes.
Binge racing speaks to ultimate devotion — the kind that gives bragging rights to those who complete the marathon.
Netflix, which from its start defied television’s age-old practice of parsing out episodes week after week in favor of mass releases, has noticed the binge racing among its subscribers.
“We’ve seen it increasing year after year,” said Brian Wright, vice president of original series. “I equate it to wanting to be the first to see a new ‘Star Wars’ film or lining up to get the latest Harry Potter book.”
The term “binge racing,” Wright said, orginated organically through social media.
The number of binge racers went from 200,000 in 2013 to more than 5 million so far this year — the same period during which the number of overall Netflix subscribers doubled, Wright said.
Most binge racers take the challenge only occasionally — when a certain special series demands a giant gulp — but one U.S. viewer has binge-raced 36 times this year, Netflix says.
Netflix says West Virginia has the nation’s highest number of binge racers, as computed by the percentage of binge racers among the state’s total Netflix subscribers. Right behind are Michigan, Maryland, Delaware and Indiana. (Alaska and Hawaii are last.)
Globally, the United States is the
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binge-racing runnerup to Canada, with Denmark, Finland and Norway rounding out the top five internationally. “Binge racing reflects a certain kind of fervor and love,” Wright said. “But someone who takes his time to watch the episodes isn’t any less of a fan.”
As for program rankings related only to binge racing, Netflix says “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” holds the top spot in the U.S.
Brian Williams, a financial consultant in Burbank, California, says he powered through the 10 episodes of “Ozark” after that drama’s release in July.
“I started after dinner,” he said. “I had a whole pot of coffee to support my habit.”
Williams enjoys being among the first to be able to converse intelligently about a show.
“And I like sharing my recommendations among friends,” he said.
Chris Trejo of Fullerton, California, attributes his fondness for binge racing to his impatience.
He is looking forward to the second season of “Stranger Things,” set for release on Friday.
“I need to put that in my calendar,” Trejo said, “and move some things around — you know?”