Fans of “Squid Game” were both delighted and horrified to learn that Netflix had ordered a reality series based on the Korean drama. “Squid Game: The Challenge” is set to make its streaming debut on the service on Nov. 22, but how many episodes will be available for users to binge?
According to an exclusive report from Deadline, fans may only get half the season when the competition series hits Netflix. The streamer is thinking seriously about putting the show out in two batches, with the second to be released at an unspecified date.
Netflix is well-known for its strategy of binge-releasing a season of TV all at once, giving fans the opportunity to consume as many episodes as they want in a sitting. But it hasn’t been afraid to tinker with that formula; “Stranger Things” split its last season into a two-part release, and Netflix reality shows like “The Circle” have also been given the batch release treatment.
Watch the New Trailer for ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’:
Studies have shown that binge, weekly, and batch releases all have their own particular benefits. Weekly releases have the chance to build on their audiences every week, but binge releases usually retain viewers better over the course of an entire season. The first season of “Squid Game” was a juggernaut for Netflix, driving high demand for weeks after its initial debut.
That’s why it makes sense for Netflix to take a middle-of-the-road strategy with “Squid Game: The Challenge.” The company can build buzz around the series by doing a batch release, and it can count on the power of the “Squid Game” brand to ensure that users return to watch the second group of episodes whenever it decides to make them available.
Netflix is billing the show as the largest reality series ever filmed, with 456 contestants and a prize of $4.56 million. “Squid Game: The Challenge” is making its Netflix debut on Wednesday, Nov. 22, but users will just have to wait and see how many episodes they get on that date.
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