MUSO's Opening Demand module provides a unique lens into audience preferences by focusing on demand during the first 30 days after a title’s release. This approach ensures fair comparisons between newly released titles and those released months or even years earlier, emphasizing the critical early window of audience engagement. By ranking titles released since July 2019, when MUSO began tracking demand for film and TV content, this data offers actionable insights into the initial performance of TV seasons, empowering industry stakeholders to make informed decisions on content acquisition, competitive positioning, and strategic planning.
Top Performers and Release Strategies
The data highlights a clear leader in demand: Loki: Season 1, which achieved the highest Opening Demand score (100%), setting a benchmark for other titles. Following closely are The Last of Us: Season 1 (82.6%) and House of the Dragon: Season 1 (72.8%). Notably, all three of these high-demand titles followed a weekly release strategy.
- Weekly Releases Show Strong Opening Demand: Among the top-ranked shows, those adopting weekly release schedules (Loki: Season 1, The Last of Us: Season 1, and House of the Dragon: Season 1) captured the highest Opening Demand scores. This could suggest that weekly releases help sustain buzz and anticipation over time. However, since the Opening Demand score focuses on the first 30 days, it is unclear whether the release strategy alone drives higher engagement. Further analysis of binge-released titles and long-term trends would be needed to confirm this conclusion.
- Binge Releases Gain Ground: While weekly releases dominate, Shangri-La Frontier: Season 2 stands out as a binge release title, ranking 5th with a score of 60.5. This suggests that binge releases can still attract significant demand, particularly for highly anticipated titles.
- New Release Impact: It is worth noting that Squid Game: Season 2 was released on December 26th, so the data included in this analysis does not represent a full 30-day view for this title. Once 30 days of data is available, Squid Game: Season 2 looks likely to end up significantly higher in the rankings.
Episodes Released and Viewer Engagement
The number of episodes released within the first 30 days also plays a crucial role. Top performers such as Loki: Season 1, The Last of Us: Season 1, and House of the Dragon: Season 1 released five episodes within the first 30-days of the first episode being released, balancing enough content to engage audiences without overwhelming them.
Genre Trends and Audience Demand
- Fantasy and Sci-Fi Dominate: Fantasy and science fiction titles, such as House of the Dragon and The Mandalorian, consistently rank high in Opening Demand. However, this trend could also reflect the industry’s investment in high-profile content within these genres, which often receive significant promotion and larger budgets. While these results indicate strong demand, they may also highlight broader production trends rather than a universal preference for these genres.
- Emerging Genres: Titles like Shangri-La Frontier and Dan Da Dan illustrate sustained high-interest in anime and gaming-inspired content. These genres continue to attract dedicated audiences and expand their global reach.
Insights for Industry Stakeholders
- Content Acquisition Trends: The predominance of weekly-released shows in the top 20, such as Loki: Season 1 and The Last of Us: Season 1, suggests that this strategy remains a strong contender for generating buzz and engagement. However, this could also be a reflection of the fact that more high-profile shows are still released weekly. Further analysis is needed to understand whether weekly releases inherently outperform binge releases in driving demand or whether this trend is a byproduct of industry norms.
- Comparison of Similar Titles: The Opening Demand module allows studios and distributors to compare titles within the same genre, subgenre, or theme, helping them assess how new releases stack up against similar content. For production teams, this can provide valuable benchmarks for what works well within specific categories, ensuring planned titles align with audience expectations and competitive standards.
- Portfolio Optimization: Streaming platforms should consider diversifying their libraries to include both binge-worthy and weekly content, catering to different audience preferences. The mix of high-ranking titles in the Opening Demand dataset—ranging from anime to fantasy—underscores the need to balance flagship weekly releases with niche binge content to capture diverse audiences.
Key Takeaways
The Opening Demand module underscores the power of data-driven decision-making in the entertainment industry. By understanding what resonates with audiences globally, stakeholders can make informed choices to maximize their ROI. As the content landscape evolves, tools like MUSO Discover remain essential for staying competitive in an increasingly fragmented market.
For more details on how MUSO Discover can help your team, visit MUSO Discover.