April 25th, 2024, YouGov
This report offers a deep dive into the streaming landscape of the US in 2023, analyzing viewership patterns and online sentiment across leading platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Paramount+, Peacock, and Apple TV+. We investigate which themes caught the audience's attention and assess the impact of original, acquired, and affiliated content across each service. Through YouGov Stream's Viewership Affinity Analysis, we also highlight the viewership fandom groups driving platform success.
Key findings include:
● Original vs acquired: In 2023, Netflix and Apple TV+ stood out as the platforms where all the top new titles were originals. Other platforms presented a mix of original, acquired, and affiliated content among their most-viewed releases.
● Genre success: Netflix’s top new releases in 2023 leaned towards action-adventure, crime, and thrillers, while Prime Video found success with thematically dark. female-focused nararatives and Feature Films.
● Focused content: Disney+ demonstrated the most focused approach amongst platforms in regard to its content offering, drawing subscribers primarily through Marvel and Star Wars titles.
● Paramount+’s showtime titles: Paramount+ saw particular success with thematically dark showtime titles. Viewership affinity analysis and online discussions suggest a strong tendency among viewers to engage with multiple showtime titles on the platform.
● Male talent: High-profile male actors significantly contributed to the popularity of returning series on Netflix and Disney+ in 2023.