Disney’s Freeform premieres all 10 episodes of Beyond

Walt Disney Co.’s Freeform cable network tried something new with the Jan. 2 premiere of Beyond.

Fans who went to the Freeform website or app could view all 10 episodes of the fantasy drama. While that’s typical for streaming services like Netflix, which load full seasons of shows on their websites, it was a first for a Disney channel. Many viewers watched all 10 hours in one sitting.

“Bingeing used to be something a little unsavory,” said Tom Ascheim, the president of Freeform. “Now it’s all about how people want to watch TV.”

TV networks of all stripes are adjusting to changes in viewing habits. Netflix, a streaming pioneer, proved that offering entire seasons of House of Cards could boost interest. That has forced conventional networks to rethink their strategy.

Freeform changed its name from ABC Family a year ago, reflecting a shift in focus to a broader audience of tech-savvy 18- to 34-year-olds. Beyond drew 14.2 million viewers in its first week, with almost half the audience watching online, according to Freeform.

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