15 ways Netflix shows changed the television landscape

In the past 15 years, television has changed so much. Just think about where we were in 2007… Future hits like Gossip Girl and Mad Men were just premiering, Hulu was still a free service, and we were a handful of years out from the debuts of the first Netflix shows.

There have been countless hits, misses, highs, lows, and everything in between within that 15 year span. The rise of streaming drove another culture shock to the declining ratings of broadcast television, but these days, things seem to have evened out.

Wisely, other services and networks have taken notes on the innovative moves Netflix shows have made and implemented their own innovations to the way we watch TV. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! But Netflix’s new rules aren’t so bad now that they’re the new normal.

How Netflix shows changed television

Netflix isn’t the only streaming service responsible for changing the way we watch TV, but its most popular shows like Ozark, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton have surely left their mark and charted a new course for entertainment. Here’s the top 15 ways Netflix changed television.

Binge-friendly releases

When Netflix first debuted its inaugural original series, the streamer opted to release every episode all at once, and it was revolutionary. Although some viewers took slowly to the new binge-watching method as introduced by Netflix shows, having been used to the traditional weekly release pattern, others now prefer the binge model to anything else.

Netflix has stayed true to binge-friendly releases for most of its original releases, save for certain unscripted reality series and K-Dramas, and it’s changed the way we all watch, consume, talk about, and even make TV. It’s brought both positives and negatives, but could you imagine not having the option to watch a new season in full on Netflix?

Original streaming series

Netflix was one of the first, and certainly the most popular, streaming services. But it wasn’t always a distributor of original content. In its earliest days, Netflix was something of an aggregate of acquired shows and movies, a place where you could binge-watch throwbacks like One Tree Hill and That ’70s Show while catching all kinds of movies.

But when Netflix kicked off its original programming slate with Emmy-nominated hits House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, a door was opened that has never been shut since. As we all know well by now, it’s a streaming world and every single streamer offers its own batch of original series and movies, all thanks to the success of the first Netflix shows.

Streaming wars and cable’s downfall

Jumping off of the introduction of Netflix original content and the advent of additional streaming services with their own exclusive fare, the leading streamer clearly helped influence the current climate of “streaming wars.” We’re all juggling multiple streaming services from the likes of Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Disney+… and the list could go on.

Likewise, the rapid rise of the streaming wars helped further push basic and, in some cases, premium cable into their flop eras. As many consumers started cutting the cord at an alarming rate, broadcast and cable had to bend and adapt to keep up in different ways, with some finding their niche and putting up a good fight. But it’s still been an interesting battle to navigate.

Emphasis on portable consumption

Obviously, the way we watch TV has changed in many ways, none more so than how. We’re no longer confined to a specific television schedule as planned by TV Guide. As streaming became a more widely used method of media consumption, so did a more portable means of watching content, especially television shows.

There’s no doubt that Netflix lent a helping hand to the gravitation toward portable viewing options. Thanks to apps, downloads, and additional options that allow viewers to watch whenever wherever, you can watch your favorite Netflix shows anywhere so long as the wifi connection is strong.

Lower episode counts

Traditionally, television shows have had huge episode counts. The standard on broadcast has been 22 episodes per season with some series even surpassing that number from time to time. (Fun fact: Beverly Hills, 90210 cranked out 32-episode seasons!) However, Netflix has dramatically reduced episode counts, popularizing 10-episode (or lower!) seasons.

Longer episode lengths

Of course, sometimes there’s a catch to a reduced episode count. Because Netflix doesn’t have commercials, the creative team doesn’t have to work within the confines of a certain act structure that brings time constraints. That means, episodes can be between 50-70 minutes. The final episode of the hit limited series Inventing Anna clocks in at a whopping 82 minutes!

Increased waits between seasons

If you’re a fan of any Netflix original series of the past few years, then you have, for better or worse, grown accustomed to much longer waits between seasons than on traditional television. But that’s because Netflix films and releases its series all once.

Because broadcast series air weekly for a span of months, those shows are able to be in production as the show airs. Cable series also air weekly but are filmed all at once. Netflix takes its time with filming for our binge-watching pleasure. Let’s just hope three-year waits aren’t the norm…

Bringing stars back to TV

Although Netflix can’t take full credit for pulling in major stars, the streamer definitely deserves some credit. The streaming era has blurred the previously unspoken line between movie stars and television stars with more and more major stars lining up to star in Emmy-worthy series. Netflix itself has lured in the likes of Emma Stone, Paul Rudd, Renée Zellweger, Henry Cavill, Regina King, and so many more.

No pilot season

“Pilot season” might not mean much to those who aren’t tuned into the television industry, but it’s the time of the year when networks order pilots (or the first episode) of a new series in order to decide whether to order a full season or pass altogether.

Netflix completely skips pilot season and orders its original shows straight to series. In that sense, Netflix takes big risks with its original content, but as we have seen, it really pays off. Also, the streamer’s innovation on traditional TV methods has trickled down to some networks.

More limited series

Once again, Netflix didn’t invent limited series, but the streaming service certainly helped popularize the limited series format. Some of the biggest and most-watched Netflix shows throughout the year are limited series, and there’s a marked rise in shorter series runs on not only other streaming services but on broadcast and cable.

Saving canceled shows

Sure, Netflix has adopted a bad habit of canceling its own original shows after one or two seasons, but that doesn’t negate its reputation as the savior of canceled shows. The Killing, Designated Survivor, Longmire, Lucifer, and most recently Manifest have all benefitted from Netflix swooping in to reverse an undeserved cancellation. But that lightning doesn’t strike too often.

The Netflix bump

However, Netflix has also been known to help save acquired series via the “Netflix bump.” The strongest example of the Netflix bump in action is none other than The CW’s Riverdale, which saw its ratings increase in season 2 following new fans watching season 1 on Netflix. In fact, multiple CW series like All American and Dynasty, as well as other series not on The CW, have benefitted from the Netflix bump.

Headline-grabbing docuseries

When have you ever seen a documentary series like Tiger King completely take over the world? Yes, there have been other instances of docuseries gripping audiences worldwide, but there’s something about Netflix’s releases that bring back that watercooler conversation television has been missing since Lost ended.

From Making a Murder to recent hits like Bad Vegan and Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King, Netflix has a hold on true crime like none other. Other streaming services will try but few will net a pop culture fad as all-consuming as Tiger King.

An updated take on reality

Reality television isn’t a particularly novel genre these days, but the kinds of reality TV we watch has completely changed since the days of The Osbournes and Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. In recent years, Netflix has streamlined its reality offerings with its own twist on the genre with hits like Too Hot to Handle, Love is Blind, The Circle, Selling Sunset, and many more!

Making K-Dramas and international content accessible

One of the biggest plus sides of Netflix has to be the accessibility to international content. Thankfully, the streamer has made strides in making Netflix shows from all around the world not only priorities but accessible for every viewer.

For years, many original series from various countries have been some of the most-watched hits, whether it’s Spain’s teen drama Elite or Germany’s sci-fi thriller Dark. Recently, K-Dramas have enjoyed a marked rise in popularity, led by the behemoth blockbuster Squid Game.

How do you think Netflix shows have helped shaped the modern television landscape? Share your thoughts in the comments!