In a landmark move, Netflix has opened its treasure trove of viewer data, unveiling global midyear statistics for every title on its platform in what marks the streaming giant’s inaugural step towards regular reporting.
The much-anticipated report by Netflix divulged a plethora of insights, revealing that the political thriller ‘The Night Agent’ emerged as the most-watched title worldwide in the first half of 2023, amassing an impressive 812.1 million hours of viewing. Following closely behind were Season 2 of the family drama ‘Ginny & Georgia’ and the debut of ‘The Glory,’ a South Korean series. Notably, ‘Ginny & Georgia’ claimed the top spot when considering viewership across all seasons of a show.
This groundbreaking disclosure by Netflix, recognized as the most comprehensive data reveal by any streaming service to date, arrives amidst heightened scrutiny and demands for increased transparency within the entertainment industry. Recent negotiations and strikes between Hollywood labor unions and major studios culminated in amplified compensation for writers and actors in streaming, contingent upon greater transparency in US viewer data from platforms such as Netflix.
Netflix’s co-Chief Executive Officer, Ted Sarandos, emphasized the significance of this disclosure, acknowledging the persistent demand from stakeholders for more extensive viewership data. He cited a history of “mistrust over time” stemming from Netflix’s previous reluctance to share viewership figures, particularly within the creative community.
For years, Netflix resisted disclosing viewership metrics, a stance echoed by other major streaming services, a departure from the conventional Nielsen audience ratings prevalent in broadcast and cable television. However, recent scrutiny prompted criticisms that Netflix was withholding audience data to evade fair compensation for its most successful programs.
In a bid to address these concerns, Netflix has gradually increased its data transparency, offering insights through audience figures for select popular titles and weekly top 10 lists encompassing the most-watched movies and TV shows in various languages. While these lists provide a snapshot of popular content, they don’t encapsulate the vast majority of available titles.
The released data, spanning over 18,000 titles, sheds light on numerous films and shows, ranging from those garnering between 50,000 to 100,000 hours of viewership, painting a more comprehensive picture of Netflix’s content landscape.
This move by Netflix to provide comprehensive viewership data represents a pivotal moment in streaming history, offering stakeholders a deeper understanding of audience preferences and setting a precedent for increased transparency within the entertainment industry.
Sources By Agencies
