Image: Game Of Thrones, HBO
For the 14th week in a row, Netflix’s Stranger Things is America’s most demanded series. In an interesting development, television demand for Stranger Things has not declined compared to last week. In fact, US demand is up by 1% from last week. This is a change from previous weeks, where demand declined week-on-week. Will US audience demand for the sci-fi series resume a declining trajectory next week? Or could this be the baseline level where demand for the megahit stabilises?
Keeping focus on cultural juggernauts, demand for HBO’s fantasy blockbuster Game Of Thrones rose nearly 20% this week due to the Emmy awards on September 22nd. Going into the awards, the show had a record 32 nominations. Prior to the ceremony, there was media speculation whether this final season could win a record-breaking number of awards. This record was set by Game Of Thrones itself, for 12 wins in 2015. In the end, the show only ended up equaling the record. However, it still made history by becoming the first series to ever win Best Drama for its eighth season.
US audiences continue to engage with the currently-airing Season 9 of American Horror Story. After last week’s strong rise, the 80’s slasher film-inspired FX series gains a further three places to rank as the fifth most demanded show in America.
In the top ten titles by digital original television demand, the five most demanded titles from last week return in almost the same order. Stranger Things of course still leads the pack, while 13 Reasons Why and Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance from Netflix traded third and fourth place.
Outside the top five, YouTube Original Cobra Kai rises four places to rank seventh. This week, all YouTube Originals moved outside of the YouTube Premium paywall to become ad-supported titles. As the platform’s flagship title, Cobra Kai has been the focus of much of the advertising promoting this move.
As well as Cobra Kai, one other title returns to the top ten following an absence last week. Prime Video’s Carnival Row is up four places, making the fantasy crime drama the digital original series with the eighth most television demand.
