For some time now, you have been able to see two chart tables on the Netflix homepage: the top 10 most popular films and the top 10 most popular series in Germany. These lists offer a little behind-the-scenes look at the streaming service. What’s popular? What is successful? What is actually watched out of the huge ocean of content?
This is also quite interesting and useful. However, the method Netflix used to calculate these charts was controversial from the start. Now the streaming service is changing a small rule within measurement technology – with a big impact.
Simply explained: How Netflix determines the most successful films and series from now on
Until now the series ended up in 1st place, of which the most hours were watched. Long films and especially long series benefited from this. Because: The longer the series, the more hours you have to watch to experience the finale.
From now on Netflix divides the total hours watched by the season’s total runtime, reports Deadline. This is now benefiting shorter series that have been watched by more people.
The result: The eternal ranking of the most successful Netflix series of all time is being shaken up. Long series fall behind, shorter ones push forward.
Why is this measurement method better? The mass of hours watched was far too rough a figure to express real interest. What do you mean by 1,718,800,000 watched hours for Wednesday? With the new measurement method, Netflix adds another dimension to the statistics. The number 252,100,000 has a few digits fewer, but it now expresses complete “views”. A still imperfect, but much more concise investigation of audience interest.
If that wasn’t enough math for you, let’s take a closer look at it using Stranger Things/Wednesday as an example.
Wednesday now faces Stranger Things, but one series remains untouchable
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown might take a slightly different view of the new rule. Because of the adjustment, your series falls behind Wednesday in the all-time ranking of the most successful English-language Netflix series. And that’s no wonder.
Netflix
The most successful English Netflix series
Wednesday Season 1 is 6 hours and 49 minutes long
However, Wednesday is not enough for first place in the ranking of all Netflix series, including the non-English-speaking ones. It still says Squid Game here:
The most successful Netflix series of all time
Incidentally, Netflix also increased the time window for the measurements. Previously it was 28 days. It now includes hits up to 91 days after a series was published.
Podcast: Is Netflix worth it or a waste of money?
Popular series are being discontinued, password sharing is being prevented and prices are increasing: In this podcast episode, we therefore ask ourselves a question: Is the Netflix subscription still worth it?
At this point you will find external content that complements the article. You can show it and hide it again with one click.
We present the arguments for and against Netflix, explain the current price structure and the measures against account sharing. We also take a look at the attractive content that the streaming service still offers and thus arrive at the answer: to unsubscribe or not?