There was a time when the idea of Netflix releasing a program on a weekly basis seemed strange, with its rollout of “Better Call Saul” in the U.K.
But after a bleary eyed, snowy, week with “House of Cards” that’s changed. Hearing that Netflix will release episodes of “Between,” a new Canadian drama starring Jeanette McCurdy, concurrently with its broadcast dates sounds refreshing.
The death toll is rising. New #Netflix original series coming May 21st. #NetflixBetween #PrayForPrettyLake https://t.co/qeNdk1cobx
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— Jennette McCurdy (@jennettemccurdy) March 9, 2015
The series will be accessible to American Netflix viewers after the episodes air on Canada’s City, which has the exclusive window rights to the show. From The Hollywood Reporter:
City will debut “Between” in Canada at 8 p.m. on May 21, with Netflix to follow an hour later at 9 p.m. on Thursdays stateside and in the rest of the world. That approach is different from Netflix’s release plan for its other summer 2015 fare, which includes “Orange is the New Black” returning for a third season of binge-viewing on June 12.
So, we’ll still get to binge on “Orange is the New Black,” if that’s still what you’re into. But this seems like a good experiment and ways to test the waters. The idea of binging on Netflix’s original content was a novelty, like getting a deep-fried Oreo at an amusement park. It shouldn’t happen more than once or twice a year. There came a point during episode five or six of “House of Cards,” where I was still avoiding Twitter for spoilers, barely enjoying the plot line and I had to ask myself: why am I doing this? Just because.
I just want house of cards to be over now.
— Karen Fratti (@karenfratti) March 6, 2015
Talk about unpopular opinions. There are perks and downsides to everything. But stirring up excitement by showing the program to American viewers alongside the Canadian audience is a good marketing technique. Nothing like suspense to keep viewers around, whether they like it or not (see “Scandal” and “House of Cards”). This is one reason I feel conflicted about networks creating their own streaming services: couldn’t we make some deals and play around with this concurrent release of new shows? We’re stuck with Google. We’re probably stuck with Netflix, too. So let’s just make it better.
Of course, if they released “Orange is the New Black” on a weekly basis, I’d be the first to riot. But maybe it would be a good thing, practicing a little self control. Going outside on a Sunday. New shows might have a longer shelf life that way, too. After my binge, I proclaimed that I was totally over the Underwoods. But who knows if I’ll remember that by next year.