What's interesting about this story to me is not the idea that serialized shows do well on Netflix -- I already know that, since I watch tons of serialized shows and would only do so on Netflix or Amazon so I can avoid the commercials.

What's interesting is that the networks (and Netflix) are actually figuring out the business model that might make sense for those shows, much as "basic" cable is figuring our how to do more character-driven (and, in some cases, lower-cost CGI) storylines in order to hook smaller audiences on smarter shows. In a sense it's the long-tail at work, even if this is still a pretty fat part of that tail.

As Spock might have said (on a show that couldn't hold the network's attention for more than 3 years, despite a vocal audience), "Fascinating."