That's the claim from the show's cinematographer Michael Slovis, who says that services like Netflix allow for binge viewing and thus, increased ratings. September 30, 2013 7:04 AM PDT (Credit: Screenshot by CNET) The "Breaking Bad" finale might have come and gone, but the mania surrounding the event was only possible because of technology, the show's cinematographer Michael Slovis told Forbes recently in a wide-ranging interview. One of the first steps to success was HD programming, Slovis said. With HD technology, more could be delivered to "Breaking Bad" fans, providing more freedom for the story's creator Vince Gilligan. "It just so happened that during the last seven years, widescreen televisions became affordable," Slovis said. "And HD became the norm. Now people could see what we were doing and we didn't have to tell stories in the old style of closeup [then another] closeup." Related stories Apple refunding iTunes users who bought 'Breaking Bad' Season Pass 'Breaking Bad' items up for sale on new auction site ScreenBid Next Netflix binge? All 'Breaking Bad' episodes before the final 8 'Breaking Bad' to show on Netflix UK each Monday post-broadcast Digg buried into News.me Slovis also celebrated the advent of streaming media and DVRs, which allowed the show to grow from a cult favorite to a mainstream success. "Another hardware development that helped us tremendously is that all of a sudden you could DVR and Netflix the show," he told Forbes. "I don't know the numbers, but there was a period of time where Netflix was proud of the fact that more people had seen 'Breaking Bad' on Netflix than on AMC. We build an audience because they're able to binge view and catch up." "Breaking Bad" celebrated its finale last night. The show started out as a lesser-known favorite among certain viewers, but quickly became a hit after its appearance on Netflix. That the show also benefited greatly from HDTVs, however, was unknown to this point.
That's the claim from the show's cinematographer Michael Slovis, who says that services like Netflix allow for binge viewing and thus, increased ratings.
(Credit: Screenshot by CNET)
The "Breaking Bad" finale might have come and gone, but the mania surrounding the event was only possible because of technology, the show's cinematographer Michael Slovis told Forbes recently in a wide-ranging interview.
One of the first steps to success was HD programming, Slovis said. With HD technology, more could be delivered to "Breaking Bad" fans, providing more freedom for the story's creator Vince Gilligan.
"It just so happened that during the last seven years, widescreen televisions became affordable," Slovis said. "And HD became the norm. Now people could see what we were doing and we didn't have to tell stories in the old style of closeup [then another] closeup."
Related stories
- Apple refunding iTunes users who bought 'Breaking Bad' Season Pass
- 'Breaking Bad' items up for sale on new auction site ScreenBid
- Next Netflix binge? All 'Breaking Bad' episodes before the final 8
- 'Breaking Bad' to show on Netflix UK each Monday post-broadcast
- Digg buried into News.me
Slovis also celebrated the advent of streaming media and DVRs, which allowed the show to grow from a cult favorite to a mainstream success.
"Another hardware development that helped us tremendously is that all of a sudden you could DVR and Netflix the show," he told Forbes. "I don't know the numbers, but there was a period of time where Netflix was proud of the fact that more people had seen 'Breaking Bad' on Netflix than on AMC. We build an audience because they're able to binge view and catch up."
"Breaking Bad" celebrated its finale last night. The show started out as a lesser-known favorite among certain viewers, but quickly became a hit after its appearance on Netflix. That the show also benefited greatly from HDTVs, however, was unknown to this point.
