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New TV binge-watching world record set at 94 hours

If you thought you had mastered the art of binge-watching TV, think again.

A 25-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, has secured the Guinness World Record for the longest television binge-watching marathon this week, with a jaw-dropping 94 hours.

Alejandro “AJ” Fragoso during the binge-watching TV marathon
Courtesy of CyberLink

Alejandro "AJ" Fragoso started his epic TV session with two other contestants on Friday, however, Fragoso was the only one who managed to hold on until Tuesday morning, to achieve the record-breaking title.

During the experience, a whole host of shows were viewed, including back-to-back episodes of "Bob's Burgers", "Game of Thrones", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", and "Battlestar Galactica". The event was organized by multimedia software firm, CyberLink, who let Fragoso use their PowerDVD 16 player, to complete the challenge.

"Throughout this process I learned that binge-watching TV for abnormally long durations can actually be quite physically taxing," Alejandro "AJ" Fragoso, the record-breaking contestant said in a statement.

Of course binge-watching TV shows for such a long period will have some effects. After the marathon, Fragoso showed signs of a raised heart rate and neurological side effects, including acute hallucinations and a higher frequency of involuntary open-eyed "micro-naps", according to a physician who observed Fragoso's health during the event.

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With the introduction of streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, binge-watching has now become a popular pastime. A recent "Digital Democracy Survey" by consultancy firm Deloitte, showed 70 percent of U.S. consumers are now binge-watching an average of five television episodes in one go, with 31 percent surveyed doing this activity on a weekly basis.

Fragoso managed to beat the previous world record of 92 hours, which was secured by five Austrians in Vienna, this March. That event was also organized by electronics firm, LG Electronics Austria.


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