Streaming takes to short and sweet shows, ditching long, dark dramas

The model is different from the TV+ strategy, where OTT platforms create linear TV-like shows

- Lata Jha

Streaming platforms are looking to drastically downsize their web shows, halving both episode duration and overall length as audience attention spans shrink and consumer demand shifts towards light, daily entertainment over extended, dark weekend binges.

Video streaming platforms, which earlier produced near hour-long episodes for seasons spanning a minimum of 8-10 episodes each, are gradually looking to compress the format. As audience appetite for dystopian dramas lasting over eight hours for binge-watching wanes, services are planning lighter and tighter shows where an episode lasts less than 30 minutes.

Further, each season of these premium shows would be limited, ending in 4-6 episodes. Content studio heads and platform executives say the days of over-spending are long gone and audience feedback is clear: stories cannot be stretched as attention spans are limited and entertainment options many.