Netflix Reveals Viewership Statistics in “What We Watched” Report

Creators rejoice: Netflix is finally revealing viewership statistics about nearly all of its shows and movies. The streaming giant released its first “What We Watched” report, ranking its shows and movies by the amount of hours viewed over the last six months. This move aims to address the lack of transparency that Netflix has been criticized for in the past.

Why the Change?

Netflix has long been known for keeping its viewership data private, which has led to some distrust in the creator community. However, co-CEO Ted Sarandos acknowledged during a conference call with reporters that this lack of transparency was intentional. By keeping their data private, Netflix could experiment without giving away valuable information to potential competitors.

With almost 250 million global subscribers, Netflix now feels confident enough to share viewership statistics. This change is also driven by demands from Hollywood actors and writers who campaigned for increased transparency during their strikes earlier this year. Additionally, the launch of an advertising tier that requires more transparency from brands further pushed Netflix to reveal its viewership data.

The Impact

Netflix’s “What We Watched” report provides valuable insights into the popularity of its shows and movies. According to the report, “The Night Agent: Season 1,” an original action thriller, was the most-viewed show during the past six months, accumulating 812 million viewing hours. On the movie front, “The Mother,” starring Jennifer Lopez, claimed the top spot.

From January to June, 55% of Netflix viewing came from original films and series, while 45% came from licensed titles. The report covers more than 18,000 titles, accounting for 99% of all viewing on the platform and includes all titles watched for more than 50,000 hours.

Improved Environment for Creators

By sharing this data, Netflix aims to create a better environment for creators, producers, guilds, and the press. The increased transparency allows creators to understand how audiences consume their content and negotiate fair compensation. It also provides valuable information for producers and brands looking to partner with Netflix.

Netflix plans to release updated viewership reports every six months, giving creators and viewers a regular update on the popularity of its content. This move is expected to further strengthen the relationship between Netflix and the creative community.

For more details, you can read Netflix’s “What We Watched” report here.

WATCH: JPMorgan raises Netflix price target to $510