Netflix Says Bridgerton Is Fifth-Largest Season Premiere for an Original Series
Lady Whistledown has her headline for tomorrow. If televisions and iPads existed during the Regency, that is.
Netflix tweeted on Monday evening that Bridgerton — its adaptation of Julia Quinn’s best-selling novels, which was created for TV by Chris Van Dusen and executive-produced by Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland — is projected to be sampled by more than 63 million households* in its first four weeks of release. If true, that would make the sumptuous and rrrribald! period drama Netflix’s fifth-biggest* original series to date (behind The Witcher Season 1, Stranger Things Season 3, Money Heist Part 4 and Tiger King).
Couple that tally with the 44 million households that are projected to sample Robert Rodriguez’s We Can Be Heroes movie (which just got a sequel order), and Netflix claims (without independent verification, it must be noted) its “biggest viewing week between Christmas and New Year’s ever.”
*The numbers that Netflix reports are based on subscribers who have watched at least two minutes of a piece of content.
The unarguable critical success and pop-culture buzzworthiness of Bridgerton, which debuted eight episodes on Christmas Day, comes on the heels of Netflix declaring a decisive checkmate with its highly acclaimed Thanksgiving release, The Queen’s Gambit, which was sampled by 62 million households in its first 28 days — making it the streaming giant’s “biggest scripted limited series to date.”
I really hate the 2 minute sampling. I think it would be better to let us know how many subscribers watched all 8 episodes in 4 weeks.
Right if people stop watching after 2 minutes that means they didn’t like the show
This is actually not true for me… I know I’m a minority here but I often watch 2-5 minutes of a new show simply to determine if Im interested enough to keep it on my list. So many shows have been coming out I’ve been doing this with increasing regularity.
But if you put on your list you are not watching it so that rating should not count. This isn’t a reliable source of who is really watching the show or not.
I watch the entire first season of Bridgerton, and eagerly waiting for more seasons. And i agree with the comment on doing a preview and saving to your next in line to watch list and should be included in the ratings review. Eventually you will get to it.
This makes no sense. You’re confirming what the original post said. Watching 2 min proves nothing. You said so yourself. You’ll 2-5 min to determine whether to proceed.
I watch all eight episodes in two days. If a show interest me I will continue to watch until complete.
I guess their cancellations make sense for them, but Netflix is no longer making shows I want to watch. The last new Netflix show that appealed to me was Outer Banks way back in April.
I guess you’ve been living in a cave the past year.
Huh?
The Queen’s Gambit was far and away the best show, not only on Netflix, but anywhere this past year, Give it a view, iamaroom (all episodes)!
I heard it was good. That is next on my list to watch.
No. The subject matter is boring.
I watched for 3 minutes and decided it was not for me!!
Netflix inflated the number trying to get its stock prices up.
I’m sure this is a hit show. I myself have watched all episodes. But how can Netflix *project* ratings for four weeks merely ten days after? And kind of ratings are two minutes of an eight-hour programme?
I mean, they don’t share their viewer data but they must have a pretty good sense of viewer habits and trends to like a mathematical degree. If X number of people make it past X point they’re likely to watch until X, etc etc.
Your internal predictions of how many people will watch two minutes of a show can be useful for a company, but should never be released as “ratings”. Two minutes out of eight hours isn’t a “view” and “viewings” that have not happened yet are not ratings. Series drop in viewership after monster premieres. Or, double those ratings. All sort of impracticable things happen.
So…. I’m assuming we’ll get a season 2 then?
It’s not been officially announced yet, but as it’s a big fat hit—as the buzzy discussion since Christmas made clear even without the Netflix viewing stats— I’m sure it’s coming.
I think if it even did half as well they’re going to give Shonda a second season of this. They lured her with a mighty big pot o money so I’m sure it came with some renewal promises as well
I simply lived it and have watched it 10 times from start to finish.
Kinda forgot about Queen’s gambit…which was also good btw but Bridgeton exceeded all expectations. It was incredible. Have just finished rewatching it. I was expecting something along the lines of that short lived romeo & juliet Shonda drama. Can’t wait for season 2
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Bridgerton! I love everything about it especially the modern music done with strings. Every actor in the show is awesome. I cannot wait for MORE. I have had it on my TV since it aired and almost know it by heart. It is brilliant!!!
It was awesome; loved it. MORE GIRLY REGENCY STUFF PLEASE
Two minutes is ridiculous – Netflix knows their data and they are just modifying viewership to fit their needs. Previews are on for two minutes
Who watches this drek. Netflix continues to cancel excellent shows only to put on crap like this.
The entire point of the article is that apparently an awful lot of people watched this “drek” (sic) Me included.
That’s why different types of shows are made. People have differing tastes. I thought it was witty and a breath of fresh air – and truly gorgeous to watch. Looking forward to a season 2!
I watched this “drek” and found it to be a feat. The dialogue was witty, the set design made me want to smell the flowers, the costumes told stories themselves. In this house, we dissected what we saw and heard and loved every minute of it!
I watch this drek also and loved it. Different strokes for different folks.
Hey guys, one thing about TVLine, they don’t fake information so because of that i believe NETFLIX.
I loved Bridgerton!!! RegeJean could carry that Show by himself. He has such a great Stage presence, as Duke of Hastings!!
Folks…relax. Streaming reporting numbers are just as absurd as linear. Just go with it. LOL.
i honestly couldnt turn Bridgerton off, not normally into period pieces but it was addicting.
I watched it twice last week. Can’t wait for Season 2.
Interesting way to measure. I watched the first 3 episodes over a couple of weeks and was so bored I don’t know if I will ever finish but I guess finishing a series or episode isn’t as important to Netflix since they don’t have to worry about ads.
I loved watching Bridgerton.
Um, yay… More romy-soapies for girlies of all genders and ages. Yeah. Hey, Shonda, how about this: remake “Roots”, but half the African slaves are white, latino and Japanese. Diversity, right!? And then the twist: half the slave-owners are black! Wow! That’s great TV! Diversity!
I am a true fan of Rage Jean Page. He is the best actor in Hollywood today. He has everything it takes to be the best. He is sexy, intelligent, determined, honest, compassionate, funny. These are traits that I have seen in him.