Binge-Watching Bucks: The True Cost of Streaming

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A weekend binge of “Stranger Things” might cost more than just your time. Our study of over 1,000 Americans reveals not only who’s watching what (and for how long) but also the electricity costs behind streaming your favorite shows from start to finish. From daily bingers to monthly marathoners, discover how your viewing habits stack up against other Americans — and what they’re really adding to your power bill.

Key Takeaways

• 10% of Americans binge-watch TV shows daily, while 77% binge-watch at least monthly.
• On average, Americans spend 6.2 hours per week binge-watching TV shows.
• Netflix is the most popular binge-watching platform among Americans (77%).
• Americans’ most binge-worthy shows are “Breaking Bad,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Stranger Things.”
• Americans’ most rewatched shows are “The Office,” “Friends,” and “Breaking Bad.”

Americans’ Streaming Trends

• On average, a binge-watching session includes 5.5 episodes and lasts for 4.1 hours.
• 10% of Americans binge-watch TV shows daily, with millennials (12%) and women (11%) being the most likely to do so.
• 77% of Americans binge-watch TV shows monthly, and Gen Z is the most likely (86%).
• Overall, Americans spend an average of 6.2 hours per week binge-watching TV shows, with Gen Z spending the most time (7.3 hours).
• Netflix is the most popular binge-watching platform among Americans (77%).
  • Compared to other generations, Gen Z is the most likely to binge on Netflix (82%) and Max (39%).

• Drama is the most popular genre to binge among Americans (51%).
  • Gen Z is the most likely to binge anime (33%).
  • Men are twice as likely as women to binge science fiction (48% vs. 24%).
  • Women are nearly 3x more likely than men to binge reality TV (40% vs. 15%).

• According to Americans, the most binge-worthy shows are “Breaking Bad” (21%), “Game of Thrones” (14%), and “Stranger Things” (13%).
  • Millennials are the most likely to consider “Stranger Things” binge-worthy (15%).
  • Gen Z are the most likely to consider “The Office” (18%), “Grey’s Anatomy” (11%), and “Dexter” (10%) binge-worthy.
  • Men are more likely to consider “Breaking Bad” binge-worthy, while women are more likely to think “Grey’s Anatomy” is.

• 6% of Americans rewatch TV shows daily.
• 40% of Americans rewatch TV shows at least monthly.
• Americans’ most rewatched shows are “The Office” (18%), “Friends” (12%), and “Breaking Bad” (9%).
  • Gen Z and millennials are the most likely to rewatch “The Office” (21% each).
  • Gen X is the most likely to rewatch “The Big Bang Theory” (13%).

The Price of Binge-Watching

• Binge-watching all available seasons of “Survivor” would cost viewers an estimated $11.93 in electricity.
• Cost of binge-watching all available seasons of these popular TV shows:
  • “Grey’s Anatomy” ($7.78)
  • “The Simpsons” ($6.85)
  • “Friends” ($2.22)
  • “The Office” ($1.82)
  • “Game of Thrones” ($1.77)

Methodology

We surveyed 1,002 Americans about their TV show binge-watching habits and preferences; 53% of respondents identified as women, 45% as men, and 2% as non-binary. Additionally, 9% identified as baby boomers, 29% as Gen X, 52% as millennials, and 10% as Gen Z.

For the second half of this study, we gathered the total run time for an array of popular TV shows, including all available seasons, and calculated the estimated electricity consumption and cost of binge-watching the entire series. Our calculations assumed viewing on a television consuming 150 watts per hour. We assumed the cost of electricity was 16.83 cents per kWh.

About Payless Power

Payless Power is a Texas energy provider that believes in making electricity accessible to all, regardless of credit history. We offer flexible, prepaid, and traditional energy plans with competitive pricing and no credit checks, empowering Texans to take control of their energy costs.

Fair Use Statement

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