Netflix has opted for unprecedented transparency by releasing viewer data on 99% of its extensive content catalog. The streaming giant, previously criticized for its lack of transparency, disclosed that users globally spent over 812 million hours watching “The Night Agent,” making it the most viewed show in the first half of the year.
The company has faced considerable scrutiny, especially during this year’s Hollywood strikes, where the film and television industry experienced significant disruptions. Actors and writers voiced their concerns, demanding higher royalties for successful shows on streaming platforms.
Addressing these concerns, co-chief executive Ted Sarandos acknowledged on a media conference call that the opacity surrounding content popularity had contributed to a sense of distrust within the creator community.
Sarandos explained that Netflix had kept its viewer data private during the initial stages of business development to conduct experiments without divulging crucial information to potential competitors.
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In a blog post, the company stated, “This is a big step forward for Netflix and our industry. We believe the viewing information in this report will give creators and our industry deeper insights into our audiences and what resonates with them.”
Download the full report here.
Hollywood traditionally relies on Nielsen’s annual audience data for broadcast and cable television. However, Netflix’s “What We Watched” report, covering 18,000 titles and released every six months, now provides an alternative perspective. The report, spanning nearly 100 billion hours of viewing, showcased other prominent shows such as “Ginny and Georgia,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” and “The Office.”
Jennifer Lopez’s starrer movie “The Mother” claimed the top spot among movies, amassing over 249 million hours of viewing. Interestingly, non-English content accounted for approximately one-third of all viewing, indicating a robust demand for diverse titles.
Netflix emphasized that success is not solely determined by hours viewed, highlighting that both shorter and longer content formats can be immensely successful based on audience engagement. With nearly 250 million subscribers globally, Netflix is the largest streaming service worldwide.
Since 2021, the platform has been releasing weekly Top 10 and Most Popular lists, showcasing the most-watched content in English and other languages. According to Sarandos, 55% of Netflix viewing is attributed to original films and series, with the remaining 45% from licensed titles.
Netflix also introduced a separate service with advertisements in the previous year, necessitating increased transparency as advertisers seek information about content popularity.
