In a year where staying inside became the go-to activity, streaming services became an even more essential part of life. Here's what we all watched the most, according to The Nielsen Group (via the Hollywood Reporter).
Original Series
Even with the emergence of new streaming platforms from TV giants like NBC, CBS, and Discovery, Netflix retains a firm grip on viewership with nine of the top ten most viewed original series, the only exception being the Disney+ original The Mandalorian. This is no surprise to anyone, as traditional cable providers have only just entered the fray of streaming. But, with Disney+ managing to crack the top ten in their second year since launching , as well as Hulu and Amazon beginning their own original content, look for more streaming giants and cable networks to begin encroaching on Netflix's territory in years to come.
| Series | Platform | Minutes Watched (Billions) |
| Ozark | Netflix | 30.46 |
| Lucifer | Netflix | 18.95 |
| The Crown | Netflix | 16.28 |
| Tiger King | Netflix | 15.61 |
| The Mandalorian | Disney+ | 14.52 |
| The Umbrella Academy | Netflix | 13.47 |
| The Great British Baking Show | Netflix | 13.28 |
| Boss Baby: Back in Business | Netflix | 12.63 |
| Longmire | Netflix | 11.38 |
| You | Netflix | 10.97 |
Acquired Series
When Morgan said "pretty boy" I felt that. https://t.co/jcfvNYvJ4l— Criminal Minds: Evolution (@Criminal Minds: Evolution) 1600378987
We see even less diversity in streaming outlets here, with Netflix holding ten of the ten spots for acquired shows. Netflix has been known to spend exorbitant amounts to gain the market share that comes with having the most desired TV shows on the air, with 20% of its 17 billion dollar budget going towards acquired content. Even with the tragic loss of Friends from the platform, people still love sexy doctors, sexy vampires, and sexy FBI agents, with Criminal Minds, Grey's Anatomy, and The Vampire Diaries holding spots in the top ten. However, the question mark that remains with Netflix is simple: how many people are loyal to Netflix, or just to The Office? 57 billion minutes alone were spent watching The Office this year, and with Netflix's loss of the program to Peacock, we'll see just how important a loss that was.
| Title | Service | Minutes watched (billions) |
|---|---|---|
| The Office | Netflix | 57.13 |
| Grey's Anatomy | Netflix | 39.41 |
| Criminal Minds | Netflix | 35.41 |
| NCIS | Netflix | 28.13 |
| Schitt's Creek | Netflix | 23.79 |
| Supernatural | Netflix | 20.34 |
| Shameless | Netflix | 18.22 |
| New Girl | Netflix | 14.55 |
| The Blacklist | Netflix | 14.48 |
| The Vampire Diaries | Netflix | 14.09 |
Feature Films
To the shock and awe of absolutely nobody, people really love Disney movies, enough that Disney now owns seven of the top ten slots for feature films this year, cementing their choice to be the first major traditional studio to go into the streaming world as an excellent one. With the majority of their entries being original works, with a tactical grab here and there such as Broadway phenomenon Hamilton, Disney+ shook up the industry in a big way in 2020.
| Title | Outlet | Minutes watched (billions) |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen II | Disney+ | 14.92 |
| Moana | Disney+ | 10.51 |
| The Secret Life of Pets 2 | Netflix | 9.12 |
| Onward | Disney+ | 8.37 |
| Dr. Seuss' The Grinch | Netflix | 6.18 |
| Hamilton | Disney+ | 6.13 |
| Spenser Confidential | Netflix | 5.37 |
| Aladdin (2019) | Disney+ | 5.17 |
| Toy Story 4 | Disney+ | 4.42 |
| Zootopia | Disney+ | 4.4 |
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