Why are Netflix shows like ‘Wednesday’ released in two parts?

When ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 premiered in 2022, Netflix made an unusual move; it released the season in two parts. ‘Stranger Things Season 4’ was released in two parts on Netflix: Volume 1 premiered on May 27, 2022, and Volume 2 was released on July 1, 2022. Since then, many Netflix shows, including ‘The Witcher’, ‘The Crown’, ‘Squid Game’ and even the upcoming season of ‘Wednesday’ have followed suit.

While you enjoy watching the show, have you wondered why this new format was introduced? Let us learn some answers.

Why the split in two parts?

According to Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, this strategy was born during Covid disruptions but has since evolved into a deliberate creative and business choice.

In conversation with Deadline, the CCO said, “Some of those have been for reasons, because it was during Covid and strikes to get the shows on so audiences don’t have to wait for a long time. A lot of times it’s been creator-driven. Peter Morgan on 'The Crown', Shonda Rhimes on 'Bridgerton', there was a way that they wanted to structure or write it because they felt it was an actual, natural emotional break. So there’s no set way, it depends on what’s best for the show.”

But how effective is this model?

While the split release system has received a mixed reaction, have you wondered how effective it is?

A recent study by The Hollywood Reporter shows split releases often give Netflix shows more staying power. According to an analysis done by them, out of the five big releases, ‘You’, ‘The Witcher’, ‘Emily In Paris’ and ‘The Crown’ lasted longer in Netflix’s Top 10 than their previous binge-released seasons.

However, the popular show ‘Bridgerton’ was an exception. Season three stayed in the Top 10 for the same 11 weeks as season two, but it actually outperformed it in viewing time. With 846.5 million hours watched over 13 weeks, it ranked sixth all-time among English-language Netflix series.

The staggered release keeps the buzz alive for weeks or even months. For Netflix, that’s a valuable asset in an era of shrinking attention spans and endless competition for eyeballs.

However, not everyone loves to wait...

Still, not every viewer is a fan of the wait-and-watch model. One of Netflix’s biggest draws has always been its binge-friendly format. You take that away, you end up losing viewers and subscribers.

This is comparable to the weekly drop strategies of rivals like Disney+ and HBO Max.

Which do you feel is better?

So, which approach is better? It ultimately depends on what kind of viewer you are. Would you rather wait patiently to watch the finale of your favourite show? Or are you a binge-watcher who just cannot wait to see what the ending brings?