TBI Weekly: TV biz devours Netflix stats

By a mile, the most read story this week has been Netflix’s publication of a few simplified viewing stats, showing how much TV professionals today are desperate to understand the viewing habits on the usually secretive streamer. (Bear in mind Disney catching Fox only broke yesterday.)

The stats gave a small insight as to which shows were most ‘devoured’ – those watched for more than two hours a day, ‘savoured’ – those watched for less than two hours a day, or encouraged ‘cheating’ – those watched secretly without telling a partner.

Shows most likely to be devoured included mock true crime doc American Vandal, Brazilian drama 3% and 13 Reasons Why. Those most savoured included Brit drama The Crown, the female wrestling dramedy Glow and Ozark.

Those that got us all cheating and watching shows ahead of our significant others included Narcos, 13 Reasons Why and Orange is the New Black. Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life were most likely to be watched together.

The lack of data has been a bit of a bugbear for those in the industry. While the streamer is looking to invest up to US$8 billion in content in 2018, there is little information about how many people are watching these shows.

It is hard for producers to agree to Netflix’s deal terms, which are usually a huge upfront cheque in exchange for all the rights you have, when you don’t know how well the series is performing or have any indication if you’re likely to get another season.

However, data from Parrot Analytics in Europe highlights that shows like Stranger Things can generate up to 16 million ‘demand expressions’ in Germany alone. Clearly, there is an audience, and it truly is devouring and savouring that all-important original content.

Also in the news…

Viasat World is launching Epic Drama, its SVOD service that will serve its key countries and territories including Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.

Sony Pictures Television Networks (SPTN) will be launching a new dedicated kids’ app which brings together shows, games, galleries and competitions from its three UK networks – Pop, Tiny Pop and Pop Max.

MTG’s virtual reality platform Viareal is now National Geographic’s official VR partner in the Nordic region.

Banijay’s format All Against 1 has been commissioned by French public broadcaster France 2.

Tanin Productions’ format Face It has been optioned by Plano A Plano in Spain.

History Films and the BFI will launch a new documentary feature film Escape from Homs in association with BBC Storyville.

Genius Brands will launched preschool series Llama Llama on Netflix in January 26, which stars Jennifer Garner as the leading voice actor.

Talpa’s Around the World with 80-year-olds has been commissioned by Germany’s ZDF.

The week’s top TBI stories…

• Netflix stats: what was ‘devoured’ and ‘savoured’ in 2017
• Netflix fires exec over controversial Masterson claims
• Disney secures $66bn 21st Century Fox entertainment takeover
• Amazon buys first local French dramas
• Discovery threatened with another carriage blackout in Europe

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