The summer I turned binge-y

In this episode of Planet Money, Kenny Malone and Wailin Wong delve into the economics of streaming and the impact of binge-watching on the television industry. They explore the history of Netflix, from its DVD rental days to its current status as a streaming giant, focusing on key moments and television shows that shaped its binge-release strategy. They discuss how shows like "Breaking Bad" and "House of Cards" influenced Netflix's decision to release entire seasons at once. The hosts also bring in insights from Pedro Ferreira, a professor studying the effects of binge-dropping versus weekly releases (drip model) on consumer behavior and churn rates, referencing shows like "The Young Pope," "Big Little Lies," and "The Summer I Turned Pretty." The episode concludes by questioning Netflix's continued commitment to the binge-drop model despite data suggesting that a weekly release strategy might be more beneficial for customer retention, and what it could mean for the future of streaming.