Comparison of the theoretical impulsive SIR diffusion curve and the actual online on-demand streaming curve.(a) The J-shaped solid curve indicates the general SIR diffusion process within the initial limited duration, while the piecewise broken curve indicates the step increment effect of impulsive stimulation at every update time τk. (b) The actual online on-demand streaming curve is a zigzag. Possible explanations are as follows: faithful fans who seek new episodes form the local sharp peaks at every update time τk (marked by small round circles); feverish audiences rapidly decrease to form the subsequent valley (marked by small triangles); promotion and buzz cause the slow climb before the next update time τk+1.
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