Netflix has taken a huge step forward by disclosing audience data on 99% of its programming, the first time such transparency has been granted.
One highlight is the political thriller “The Night Agent,” which received an astounding 812 million hours of global viewership, making it the most-watched show in the year’s first half.
The streaming behemoth has been chastised for its lack of openness over content performance, an issue that drove Hollywood strikes, affecting the film and television industries. These protests were led by actors and writers requesting equitable compensation for successful series on streaming services.
During a media conference call, co-CEO Ted Sarandos recognised that the secrecy surrounding viewership had led to scepticism among the creator community.
The Night Agent
Netflix defended its previous privacy policy, emphasising that it permitted experimentation without disclosing critical information to potential competitors.
Image source- BBC
In a blog post, the firm praised the decision as a big step forward for both Netflix and the industry. The leaked watching data is supposed to provide producers and the industry with profound insights into consumer preferences.
Hollywood has previously relied on Nielsen’s yearly audience figures to judge performance.
Still, Netflix’s “What We Watched” report, which covers January to June and ranks 18,000 movies, provides a more frequent update, intending to issue it every six months. The report lists “Ginny and Georgia,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” and “The Office.”
“The Mother,” starring Jennifer Lopez, was the most-watched film, with over 249 million hours spent watching it. Non-English content contributed significantly to viewing, accounting for almost one-third of the total. The research emphasised the continuous demand for older titles.
Netflix emphasised that success is multifaceted and is not just judged by viewing hours. The streaming behemoth said that 55% of viewership came from original material, while 45% came from licenced films.
Netflix has gradually boosted transparency since 2021, publishing weekly Top 10 and Most Popular rankings. More than half of this year’s releases were included on these lists.
Because of advertiser expectations for content popularity information, the company’s separate ad-supported service, introduced last year, required increased openness.
