Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix docuseries has reportedly fallen far short in popularity compared to other shows.

In a surprising turn of events, the highly anticipated Netflix series featuring Harry and Meghan has not performed as expected. The series, which cost £88 million, has garnered only 62 million hours of viewing in the first half of 2023. This figure pales in comparison to children's favorite Peppa Pig, which amassed over 140 million hours of viewership. The documentary focused on the couple's departure from royal life, as the Daily Mail reported.

Comparing Harry and Meghan's series to other Netflix hits

Netflix, in a move to be more transparent, has released viewing figures for its content.

This is a significant step, considering the platform's previous reluctance to share performance data. In this context, Harry and Meghan's series' viewership seems modest.

For perspective, a show with 60 million hours viewed equates to one million people watching a one-hour episode once. This metric provides a clear understanding of the series' reach and popularity among Netflix's vast audience.

The streaming giant, amid criticism for lack of transparency, has now provided a clearer picture of what shows captivate their audience.

The released figures reveal a stark contrast between the royal couple's documentary and other popular Netflix offerings.

Top contenders on Netflix outshine the royal documentary

The Night Agent, a political thriller, emerged as the most-watched show on Netflix in the first half of the year. Since its premiere on March 23, it has accumulated an impressive 812 million hours of viewership in just three months.

This series' success significantly overshadows that of Harry and Meghan's, showcasing the varied interests of Netflix's global audience.

The Night Agent leads by a large margin, further underscoring the comparative underperformance of the royal couple's series.

Other series like the comedy-drama Ginny & Georgia and the revenge thriller The Glory also outperformed Harry and Meghan's series, with 665 million and 623 million hours viewed, respectively.

These numbers reflect the audience's diverse preferences and the competitive nature of content on the streaming platform.

Netflix's broad array of content and its varied success

Netflix's recent engagement document, part of a semi-annual report, included over 18,000 titles.

The staggering nearly 100 billion hours watched in the first half of the year highlight the platform's vast content library and user engagement.

However, not all shows enjoy equal success.

The report revealed that numerous shows from various countries sat at the bottom of the list, each with just around 100,000 hours viewed. This wide disparity in viewership underscores the challenges of content creation and audience retention in the streaming era.

Despite the lower-than-expected performance of Harry and Meghan's series, Netflix emphasizes that success is not solely based on hours viewed. They consider a show successful if it thrills its audience, with the size of that audience weighed against the production costs.

Behind Netflix's data release and industry implications

The decision to release these figures follows significant criticism of Netflix for not being open about its content's performance. This lack of transparency was a central issue in the Hollywood strikes, where actors and writers demanded higher royalties for successful shows.

Netflix's move to disclose viewing data represents a shift in the industry, acknowledging the need for more transparent metrics in determining the success and impact of streaming content. This could have far-reaching implications for how shows are produced, marketed, and compensated.

The report's release marks a pivotal moment in the streaming industry, setting a precedent for transparency and accountability. It reflects a growing demand for fairer compensation models in the digital content creation space.

Conclusion

• Harry and Meghan's Netflix series, despite high expectations and a significant budget, has not resonated with viewers as much as other shows.
• The Night Agent led the pack on Netflix, with over 812 million hours viewed, highlighting the diverse interests of the streaming audience.
• Netflix's move to release viewing data marks a significant change in the industry, potentially impacting future content creation and compensation strategies.