Exploring Beyond Comfort TV: Streaming Audiences Seek New and Diverse Content

Great news for all the streaming fans out there! It turns out that when it comes to what we’re watching, the landscape is changing. Researchers at UCLA recently released a report on streaming television in 2023, and the results are fascinating.

In the past, many streaming charts focused on one thing: how many total minutes viewers spent watching a show. But researchers found that this isn’t the whole story. For one, it gives older shows with more episodes an advantage over newer, often more diverse programs. To get a better picture of what shows are really popular, they combined total minutes viewed with a different measure: household ratings.

And guess what? Women are really driving the streaming train. They make up a larger share of viewers than their population would suggest for 9 out of the top 10 shows in both total minutes watched and household ratings. Plus, shows led by actors of color or featuring underrepresented communities tend to have higher household ratings across the board.

When they looked at the types of shows that were popular, it became clear that viewers want more than just comfort TV. New and diverse series like “Wednesday,” “Queen Charlotte,” and “Beef” made a big impact in the top 10 when ranked by household ratings. Even though kids’ shows like “Cocomelon” and “Bluey” topped the list, more complex, engaging series like these are also finding their audience.

And here’s something interesting: while procedural dramas may rack up billions of minutes watched, they don’t always have the highest household ratings. Serialized dramas, on the other hand, might have fewer total minutes but score big with viewers.

So, what’s the takeaway? When it comes to streaming success, it’s not just about the total minutes. People want to see new, diverse stories, and that’s where the future of TV is headed. Whether you’re a fan of legal dramas like “Suits” or animated kids’ shows, there’s something out there for everyone. Remember, there’s more to TV than just the numbers – it’s all about the stories we love to watch.