Netflix scores SVOD first as 'Stranger Things' tops thrones and robots

The buzz around Netflix hit series Stranger Things hasn’t stopped, with viewers and social media users continuing to post about the nostalgic thriller. And that has shifted the series’ ranking to the top of Parrot Analytics’ list for both digital originals and overall series, a metric than includes shows from broadcast and cable networks.

The ranking marks the first time that an SVOD-based original series outpaced traditional TV series in demand, said the analytics firm.

The Stephen King-recommended series is pacing way above AMC’s Mr. Robot and HBO series Game of Thrones and The Night Of, on the overall series list. While it’s not surprising to see Thrones and Robot down overall, since their seasons ended several weeks ago, Stranger Things is vastly outpacing other digital originals, even those that just debuted, far outstripping the latest season of Narcos, which ranked only a little higher than The Get Down.

Stranger Things hit Netflix in July, while The Get Down premiered in mid-August and Narcos just this week.

Parrot Analytics said that Stranger Things was actually up another 8 percent this week, "likely propelled by Netflix’s announcement" of, finally, a second season.

While Parrot’s demand ranking is its own creation—Netflix doesn’t release subscriber numbers and rarely discusses viewing trends on its service—other research firms are reporting similar trends. Last week, Symphony Advanced Media, which uses audio recognition to track what viewers are watching on their devices, said that Stranger Things was the third highest-rated series on Netflix in its first 35 days of availability.

The thing is, no one has been able to clearly explain why this low-key thriller series has caught on so strongly. Netflix seems to be staking its bets on its bigger, cornerstone properties like House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black, and Marco Polo – with the latter not performing nearly so well as its two highest-awarded series. And nostalgia alone isn’t the key to series success: The Get Down, with its roots in a gritty ‘70s New York City, ranks highly in digital originals, but hasn’t yet cracked Parrot’s top 10 for overall demand.

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Parrot Analytics

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