Skip to main content

Search

Type a word or a name to search the news.

Rows of cinema seats
Stock photograph used as an illustration; it does not show the place, event or people in the story. Photo: Photo: Elijah Flores via Wikimedia Commons (CC0-1.0)

The rise of the 6-episode series: why shorter seasons are working

Viewers finish six-episode shows four times more often than ten-episode ones, a demo survey shows.

Platforms have been cutting seasons to six or seven episodes. Completion rates have risen from 38 to 71 percent, according to a fictional survey of 4,000 subscribers.

Writers say the shorter format forces tighter plots.

Checking your access…

Members

Support independent journalism

Our reporting is paid for by readers like you. Become a member to read without limits and keep it going.

Topics

In this story

Comments

Comments

Get our newsletter

Stories worth your time, in your inbox. Free, and you can leave in one click.

Choose your newsletters

We only use your email for the newsletters you choose.