Streaming Transparency: Unveiling Netflix's Watching Habits
In a bold move to maintain its unshakeable position in the streaming world, Netflix has decided to step up its game by becoming more forthright about the popularity of their movies and series on the platform. For the very first time, they've shared figures for the number of hours countless films and shows were watched during the first half of 2023, and this data will now be released twice a year.
Coming in at the top spot for the initial six months of 2023 was the first season of the US action series "The Night Agent" starring Gabriel Basso, garnering an impressive total of 812.1 million hours. Following closely behind is the romantic series "Ginny & Georgia" (season 2), and in third place is the first season of the Korean thriller series "The Glory." Taking the fourth spot is the first season of the horror series "Wednesday," and the mini-series "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" rounded out the top five.
Merely a Blip on the Radar in Germany
Among the highest ranks for German productions during the aforementioned period was "Nothing New in the West," which managed to secure the 145th place. While these figures do provide some insight, they come with a caveat: series vary in length, and films are generally shorter.
Historically, television has relied on viewer ratings to evaluate success, a system developed over decades. Streaming services, however, often remain tight-lipped about their content's performance. While Netflix has been sharing a list of its most popular titles for the past two years, the company had valid reasons for keeping success figures under wraps in earlier years. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos shared during a recent conference call that the decision was made to avoid providing rivals with tool for gaining an advantage in the competitive Los Angeles streaming market.
Breaking the Silence
The decision to release the success figures marks a shift in Netflix's approach to transparency. Sarandos explained that the company had initially chosen to keep the figures to themselves to avoid providing competitors with an advantage in the Los Angeles streaming market. However, this secrecy led to an air of distrust in the television industry, even as more information was shared with the creators of individual films and series.
Sarandos clarified that the release of the data had nothing to do with expanding Nintendo's advertising business. The company already uses standard industry practices to measure viewer ratings for their TV shows and other services. Since the introduction of a more affordable subscription with ads, Netflix has seen a surge in subscribers, and the streaming service could potentially attract even more advertising revenue from traditional television channels.
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Insights
- Netflix's newfound transparency goes beyond American borders, making it a significant player in media consumption worldwide.
- According to Netflix's data, the most-streamed title globally on the platform in the first half of 2023 was the US series "The Night Agent."
- With the release of data, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos addressed the platform's former decision to keep success figures private, stating that it aimed to prevent competitors from gaining an advantage in the Los Angeles market.
- The German series "Nothing New in the West" managed to secure 145th place, highlighting the global reach of Netflix's streaming service.
- Increased transparency in the streaming industry, driven by platforms like Netflix, is set to affect the use of online platforms and data in the Los Angeles market, as well as international markets.
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