The rise of Netflix and Hulu and the ever expanding array of smartphones, tablets and mobile devices means that television viewers demand access to their favorite programs whenever, however and wherever they want.
This has led to a dramatic shift in the power dynamic — now consumers, not creators are driving the television industry. In particular, binge viewing, which has become a hot term now that companies such as Netflix are offering up entire seasons of shows like “House of Cards” at one time, is having a profound impact on the business. It demands that companies do a better job of measuring viewership and personalizing programming, according to a new study on the future of television by EY, the professional services firm formerly known as Ernst & Young.