Netflix just released its latest bi-annual data dump, outlining all the most popular shows and movies from the second half of 2024.One interesting highlight in particular may help explain why Apple TV+ has been leaning so hard into global, non-English content recently.Netflix’s massive success is fueled by a global audience Netflix operates at a very different scale than Apple TV+, so it’s hard to make comparisons in terms of content popularity.
But one key highlight from the latest Netflix viewership report helps explain a recent Apple TV+ trend.Per Netflix: “Nearly a third of all viewing on Netflix came from ” That’s a pretty huge chunk of a really big Netflix viewership pie.Additionally, three of Netflix’s 10 most viewed shows during the period were also non-English—headlined by Squid Game season 2.
Netflix has long invested heavily in non-English content as it seeks to grow a global audience—and its strategy seems to be really paying off.Apple TV+, meanwhile, is a much smaller player at the moment, but it’s recently been ramping up non-English projects too.Apple TV+ is heavily upping its investment in non-English content Apple’s streamer did produce some non-English shows in its first few years, such as Pachinko and Drops of God.
Those shows received lots of critical acclaim.Yet they remained rare outliers among a slate of mostly English content.In the last several months though, there’s been a significant increase of non-English output.
Just since September, Apple TV+ has debuted: Berlin ER, a German hospital drama Love You to Death, a Spanish romantic comedy You Would Do It Too, a Spanish crime thriller Where’s Wanda?, a German dark comedy Midnight Family, a Spanish medical drama La Maison, a French fashion drama Despite having a relatively low output of new content overall, Apple TV+ has started averaging one new non-English show per month.And Netflix’s success helps explain why.Even though US growth remains Apple’s big priority, the company is making moves with TV+ that set it on a path toward true global success.
Perhaps the current Severance craze will lead more Apple TV+ viewers around the world to discover great non-English content too.Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking.Best Apple TV and Home accessories Anti-slip silicone case for Siri Remote, AirTag compatible AirPods Pro 2 (currently $199, down from $249) HomeKit smart plug 4-pack HomeKit Garage Door Opener TP-Link Tapo 2K camera with HomeKit Secure Video You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.
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