For the first time, streaming service Netflix has released detailed viewing figures about its series, showing that several Flemish series are doing very well. VRT1's 'Rough Diamonds' is even among the most-watched programmes worldwide.
Netflix has been releasing weekly 'Top 10' lists and a regularly updated category of most popular shows since 2021, but this new report now also includes data for all shows watched by Netflix users for more than 50,000 hours.
VRT series 'Rough Diamonds' is the most-watched Flemish programme on Netflix; it ranks 168th worldwide and has been watched for 72.8 million hours.
However, it is far from the only Flemish series on the list: 'Undercover', 'De Twaalf', 'Onder Vuur', 'Beau Séjour', 'Twee zomers', and the older series 'Als de dijken breken' are also all on the list. VTM programme '13 geboden' is not doing badly either, in 3,677th place.
'Big step forward'
Topping the charts was the first season of 'The Night Agent' – an American action thriller that debuted in March and racked up over 812 million viewing hours worldwide. Other Netflix titles that performed well included the second season of 'Ginny & Georgia', 'The Glory', 'Wednesday' and the 'Bridgerton' spinoff series 'Queen Charlotte.'
Non-English programmes, particularly Korean and Spanish-language shows, were all well-represented, generating 30% of all viewing figures.
The audience report is a major reversal in Netflix's policy, which in the past did not want to share this data with the competition. "This is a big step forward for Netflix and our industry," the company said in a press release.
"We believe the viewing information in this report – combined with our weekly Top 10 and Most Popular lists – will give creators and our industry deeper insights into our audiences, and what resonates with them."
The lack of transparency about streaming platforms' viewing figures has long drawn criticism from writers and actors, and played a major role in the Hollywood strikes earlier this year.
