Skip to main content

Netflix survey details the shift in viewing habits among streamers

Someone watching Netflix on a tablet in bed.
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Netflix doesn’t usually release tons of viewer data, but the streaming service is always enthusiastic about survey results. And the latest results suggest some interesting patterns about when we tend to watch certain types of programming, and how this compares to the viewing habits of yesteryear.

According to the data, subscribers get up bright and early to check out their favorite comedies: around 6 a.m., members are 34 percent more likely to watch comedy compared to other times throughout the day. The reboot series Fuller House, for example, gets watched before 8 a.m., marking a shift from the original series, which was part of the prime time TV lineup back in its day. Other top comedies watched before sunrise: The Office, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Friends.

We consider heavy dramas fodder for the evenings, but come lunch time, members worldwide are already focusing their eyes on series in this genre, which accounts for almost half (47 percent) of all Netflix viewing between the hours of noon and 2 p.m., though this is only a 5-percent increase compared to drama-watching throughout the rest of the day. But it’s clear that a greater number of folks like to enjoy some House of Cards, Shameless, Grey’s Anatomy, or Orange is the New Black with their lunchtime soup and sandwich. Midday streaming is particularly high in Brazil, where members are 25 percent more likely to watch compared to those in other countries.

We still love to watch thrillers, including series like The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, and Breaking Bad, in the evenings. Globally, that genre sees a 27-percent increase in viewership once the clock strikes 9 p.m. However, the binge-fest only lasts for a few hours, because come 11 p.m., viewers are ready for lighter fare, switching to comedies like Parks and Recreation, Master of None, and Bojack Horseman. Perhaps zombies and drug-dealing aren’t the best way to end the day before hitting the sack.

Netflix subscribers do not watch into the wee hours of the morning — only 15 percent of streaming globally is between midnight and 6 a.m., though that rises to as high as 21 percent in countries like Japan and South Korea. However, what members are watching overnight is equally interesting. This is when viewers watch shows like Chef’s Table, along with documentaries like Abstract, Making a Murderer, and Planet Earth, which see viewership climb as high as 24-percent overnight.

“It’s interesting to see the behaviors that emerge when viewers aren’t tied to a schedule,” says Cindy Holland, vice president of original content at Netflix. “And even more so to see that these routines are replicated by millions the world over.”

Overall, Netflix sees peak streaming as early as 5 p.m. in India, and as late as 10 p.m. in Argentina and Singapore.

Editors' Recommendations

Christine Persaud
Christine has decades of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about…
Why Plex is such a powerhouse and what that means for you
Plex used on all devices, mobile, laptop, more

One of the worst things that's happened due to the modern streaming wars, and with so many services, is that, as an active subscriber to many of these platforms, you have to bounce around between the different apps to browse content or watch it. It's a highly fragmented experience that can be frustrating, especially when you don't know what you want to watch in the first place. You might start with Netflix, browsing movies and shows available, then hop over to Hulu or something else when you can't find anything interesting. Wouldn't it be so much better if a one-stop-shop or hub put you in control of a single, unified library? Something like this already exists, and it's called Plex.

If you've never heard of it before, or if you have heard of it and just never had the chance to use it, listen up because Plex is an absolute media powerhouse that everyone should try, at the very least. It will put you in full control of your media and completely transform your modern entertainment experience. You won't have to hop between watchlists on various platforms like Prime Video, Paramount+, or Max. Instead, it's all accessed through Plex, and then you can browse from a central platform. Even better, once you add your streaming apps through Plex, it will allow you to create a universal watchlist regardless of where the titles are available and provide recommendations across your preferred streaming apps -- essentially doing all of the legwork for you. It's a fantastic way to discover new content that's tailored to your interests. But there's so much more to Plex, making it a powerful entertainment tool. You can find and interact with your friends on Plex, and discover and watch new content together. You'll get film, actor, and behind-the-scenes facts for every piece of content. You can even bring your own custom media, but we'll get to that.
Join Pro Week
 
Unlimited power: What can Plex do?

Read more
How to log out of Netflix on a smart TV
Netflix on a TV screen showing on the Roku home screen.

When it comes to streaming platforms, Netflix is one of the best services out there. Not only does the pioneering service give you access to thousands of movies and TV shows, but many Netflix plans will allow you to tap into 4K HDR content, on top of giving you support for multiple screens and devices. Like a lot of streaming services though, once you're officially logged in, it may feel (or look) like you can never log out.

Whatever your reason may be, when it comes time to log out of your Netflix account on a smart TV or streaming device, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process.

Read more
Ends tonight: Save $200 on this Samsung 55-inch QLED 4K TV
The Samsung Q70A 4K TV on a media console in a modern loft-style dwelling.

If you're looking for the best Samsung TV deals, this deal from Best Buy lets you grab this 55-inch Q70C  for just $800 rather than the usual $1,000. While that may still feel rather expensive, the Q70C is a great mid-to-high-end Samsung TV packed with many great features. That said, the deal is ending tonight, so if you like what you see, grab it before it expires.

Why you should buy the 55-inch Samsung Q70C QLED 4K TV
So, what makes the Q70C special? Well, for starters, it has a QLED panel that recreates colors very vividly without losing brightness, an issue that traditional LED panels tend to have. It's also helped a bit with its Dual-LED backlighting for extra brightness, so you can push the contrast and color reproduction pretty far. It also comes with Samsung's proprietary Quantum HDR, which is offset by the fact that it's missing HLG support, which most sports broadcasters use, so you'll be missing out on that front if you enjoy watching many sports.

Read more