CNET is reporting that Breaking Bad is the most popular show on Netflix in the U.S., citing data from SimilarWeb.
The firm compiled a top 20 list exclusively for CNET, but there are some pretty big caveats, so this is hardly definitive. That said, it would not be the least bit surprising if Breaking Bad is in fact the most popular show.
First off, the data, according to the report is only gleaned from about 1% of the Internet audience in the U.S. by way of desktop browser, so it doesn’t even take people watching Netflix from other devices into consideration. The majority of Netflix hours are watched on televisions, the company says.
The list also includes South Park, which isn’t even available for streaming in the U.S. It used to be, but earlier this year, the deal between Netflix and Viacom that included Comedy Central content expired (before an Amazon/Viacom deal was announced), and the show disappeared. SimilarWeb’s tracking, according to CNET, has taken place “throughout 2013”. The deal expired in May.
The list is as follows:
1. Breaking Bad
2. Family Guy
3. How I Met Your Mother
4. Supernatural
5. The Walking Dead
6. Pretty Little Liars
7. Arrested Development
8. Doctor Who
9. Grey’s Anatomy
10. The Vampire Diaries
11. Orange is the New Black
12. House of Cards
13. Law & Order Special Victims Unit
14. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
15. The Office (US)
16. Futurama
17. Gossip Girl
18. One Tree Hill
19. American Dad
20. South Park
Netflix recently said that Orange is the New Black is its most-watched original series. Arrested Development appears above it on this list, but that’s only a semi-original, as its first three season were not for Netflix.
Many of these titles have recently had seasons added to the Netflix catalog. Grey’s Anatomy: Season 9, Family Guy: Season 10, How I Met Your Mother: Season 8 and The Walking Dead: Season 3, were added in September. The Office: Season 9, Gossip Girl: Season 6, The Vampire Diaries: Season 4 and Supernatural: Season 8 were added in October.
We expect It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Season 8 to hit Netflix in December, though this is only speculation.
As far as Breaking Bad goes, fans are still waiting for the latest installment to hit Netflix, and we have no idea when that will happen. Hopefully, since the show has ended, they won’t wait as long as they normally have to add its seasons (which is nearly a year). They didn’t wait too long with the last season of AMC’s The Killing, so perhaps there’s hope.
Netflix has treated Breaking Bad like one of its own in some ways. In the UK, it streamed new episodes right after they aired on AMC.
New seasons of House of Cards and Orange is the New Black will debut in 2014. Netflix is also expected to continue on with Arrested Development.
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