Our binge watchers are better than yours

Canadians clocked as fastest ‘racers’

If you’re something of a TV fanatic, then you’ve probably spent at least one (OK, maybe 10) weekend(s) binging a fresh new season of a series from beginning to the end within 24 hours of its release.

Now, thanks to Netflix, we have a diagnosis for this lovely ailment: binge racing.

Out of 8.4 million bingeracers subscribed to the streaming network around the world, Canada comes out on top with the highest percentage of 24-hour finishers in the world at 11 per cent, followed by the U.S., Denmark, Finland and Norway.

The country’s most bingewatched shows, in order of popularity, are: 1. Trailer Park Boys 2. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life 3. Fuller House 4. The Ranch 5. Marvel’s The Defenders The top five binging provinces are: 1. Newfoundland 2. New Brunswick 3. Nova Scotia 4. Ontario 5. Manitoba According to Netflix’s global viewing data, from 2013 to 2016, binge-racing has increased a whopping 20 times. That is thanks in large part to the rising popularity of streaming networks, and the corresponding trend of releasing entire seasons at once.

While it’s only natural that Canada’s fave show to race through is Trailer Park Boys, Ecuador’s bingers are racing through Fuller House, while Club de Cuervos is No. 1 in Mexico, and The Defenders is No. 1 in Korea. While you might think breezy sitcoms would be the obvious answer, the show that’s pulled in the most global racers in 24 hours is none other than Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

But it’s really only a handful that are the most dedicated; five subscribers in the U.S. have raced through all five seasons of House of Cards the day they were released, while only one in France has raced through 30 shows just this year.

And with the news this week that Netflix plans to spend up to $8 billion (including $500 million in Canada) on new content in the next year, it looks like there will be a whole lot more to race towards soon enough.

Consider this prime time to invest in a new couch.