In a streaming landscape dominated by giants, Apple TV+ emerges victorious as Ted Lasso clinches the title of the most-watched streaming original in 2023, according to Nielsen. Despite Apple TV+’s modest subscriber base, the heartwarming series, led by Jason Sudeikis, outshone competitors with a staggering 16.9 billion minutes viewed across its 24 episodes.
Deadline reports that while Netflix’s The Night Agent secured the second spot, Ted Lasso and its consistent weekly performance, occasionally surpassing 1 billion minutes, showcased its enduring popularity. Brian Fuhrer, Nielsen’s SVP of Product Strategy, emphasized the show’s incremental episode duration increase over three seasons, contributing to its stealthy rise.
However, the streaming supremacy crown for 2023 belonged to the acquired titles, with Suits leading the pack at 57.7 billion viewing minutes. Nielsen’s data underlines the enduring power of library content, with procedural dramas like NCIS and Grey’s Anatomy also making substantial impacts.
Fuhrer draws a distinction between streaming originals and acquired titles, likening originals to sprinters and acquired shows to distance runners. The real estate of content and negotiation of rights contribute to the acquired titles’ prolonged dominance, exemplified by Netflix’s acquisition of eight out of nine seasons of Suits.
A Year of Strikes
In a year marked by Hollywood strikes and content contraction, the industry witnessed a resurgence of licensed content on Netflix. The platform’s vast reach, boasting an 80% penetration across the U.S., solidifies its undeniable impact on streaming trends.
Kids’ content emerges as another unsung hero, with Bluey and Cocomelon securing spots in Nielsen’s yearly Top 10. Family-friendly films like Moana and Encanto dominate the film list, emphasizing the repeat-viewing habits of young audiences.
As streaming usage in the U.S. soared by 21% in 2023, Nielsen predicts the continuation of these trends. Streaming, with its diverse on-demand content, is becoming the preferred choice for accessing all forms of content, marking a paradigm shift in viewership habits.
In this ever-evolving streaming landscape, Ted Lasso’s triumph stands as a testament to the charm of heartwarming narratives, proving that even in a sea of content, quality storytelling prevails.
