A new study of 2,000 adults reveals that HBO megahit “Game Of Thrones” is the most binge-able box set of all time. The fantasy series launched in 2011 and is based on the books by George R.R. Martin. The show centres on nine families fighting for the Iron Throne.
Coming in second on the list is “Breaking Bad,” starring Bryan Cranston as Walther White, a high school teacher with cancer who winds up manufacturing and selling drugs to support his family.
Third on the list is the British series “Downton Abbey” about the aristocratic Crawley family. The fourth and fifth most binge-able box sets are zombie favourite “The Walking Dead” and mob drama “Sopranos.”
The study was commisioned by Samsung UK and reflects British preferences. Steve Mitchell, head of TV product management, said via the Independent: “We’ve seen over the last few years that there has been a radical change in how people watch TV and their favourite programmes. Whether through box sets or streaming, we all have an opportunity to watch whatever content we want at a time that’s convenient for us.”
People are watching a lot more TV these days. One in five admitted they are watching more shows than they did five years ago and also admitted to “box set binge.” No doubt the popularity of streaming services such as Netflix has helped people binge watch. And 44 percent of those surveyed said they prefer to watch television on demand versus live.
Rounding out the top 10 shows on the binge-able list are: “24,” “Sex and the City,” “Lost, “The Wire” and an option characterized as “other.”
Not surprisingly, survey participants said the show they were most looking forward to is the upcoming season of “Game of Thrones.” The eighth and final season is expected to air later this year, though some experts believe the network won’t release new episodes until 2019. Fans also can’t wait for new seasons of “Sherlock,” “Line of Duty,” “Doc Martin” and “Dancing on Ice.”
The top 20 most “binge-able” box sets are:
- Game of Thrones
- Breaking Bad
- Downton Abbey
- The Walking Dead
- The Sopranos
- 24
- Sex and the City
- Other
- Lost
- The Wire
- Peaky Blinders
- Dexter
- Orange is the New Black
- House of Cards
- True Blood
- Gossip Girl
- Sons of Anarchy
- Spooks
- Homeland
- Desperate Housewives
