by Grace Alofe ’14, Art & Entertainment Staff Writer

When was the last time you watched your favorite television show on an actual television? If you had to think about that for more than 3.5 seconds, then you are a part of a rising mass majority. The truth is that a great number of viewers today have stopped watching traditional television and now opt for TV via online sites such as Netflix.  What is causing this shift away from prime time television to online streaming?

When asked if they used a Netflix account, six out of six students answered affirmatively. Of those, four students said they preferred watching shows and movies on Netflix. One popular reason given was that Netflix is more conducive to watching series from the very beginning. Esther Neibart ’14 and Matthew Bonapace ’17 both identify Netflix as their primary source for “binge” watching a series or a movie. They say that it is much easier to have several series at your fingertips without having to endure pesky commercials.

Apart from the accessibility of entire series, some also noted the convenience of Netflix’s mobility and flexibility. No longer is one confined to the living room couch, but they can watch television without having to leave the extra comfort of their own bed for hours at a time. It in now as easy to watch a tv show at home as it is in the car, on the beach, walking down the street, or even on a train. Furthermore, viewers have the power to choose when and where they watch certain shows instead of being limited to network air times.

However, it is worth investigating why two of the six students responded that they prefer watching television live to viewing online streaming websites. “Normal television has more options,” says David Wood ’17, “and they [Netflix] don’t have all the television series. It’s annoying. All the ones I want aren’t there.”   In addition, Netflix does not always have the most current episodes of seasons that are simultaneously airing live. It usually takes a few months for them to acquire the latest season of a show.

The pros and cons of Netflix can be argued all day long, yet the decision whether or not to join the growing Netflix Revolution is an individual one. The fact remains, though, that this streaming site has become popular because people enjoy being able to choose what they watch and when they watch it.