Despite All the Backlash, ‘The Acolyte’ Was Disney’s Second Most-Watched Show of 2024 with 2.7 Billion Minutes

2023 saw a decrease in TV production compared to the previous year, but the rate of decline was lower than it had been. A Luminate report indicates that there was a 7% fall from the previous year’s figures. The entertainment industry is still grappling with the effects of strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA, which significantly impacted various aspects of film and TV production nearly everywhere.

Television broadcasting recovered more swiftly than other media formats did. The networks made significant efforts to restart productions early in the year, leading to an unexpected 25% increase in production numbers. On the other hand, cable faced the greatest challenges, with original series reaching record lows, dropping by a considerable 15% compared to the previous year (2023).

Or simply:

Broadcast TV recovered quickly from setbacks, while networks worked hard to bring shows back early in the year, resulting in a surprising 25% increase in production. Cable channels struggled the most, with original series hitting new lows and falling by 15%.

As a passionate cinephile, I must admit that the streaming landscape is yet to regain its former glory. Even Netflix, which has been leading the pack in the U.S., saw a 22% decrease in the number of series they produced last year. Interestingly, Prime Video was the only platform that managed to avoid cuts in U.S.-based content over the past two years.

2024 saw Disney+ experience a blend of outcomes. Despite the lackluster performance of major franchises such as Marvel and Star Wars, an unexpected success story emerged: The Acolyte. This series amassed a staggering 2.7 billion minutes viewed, placing it second only to Percy Jackson and the Olympians (3 billion minutes) in terms of viewership on the platform.

Although the viewership for shows such as Echo and Agatha All Along wasn’t particularly impressive, Disney+ had a significant dependence on these prominent properties to keep going.

In other regions, Netflix continued to hold its strong position, boasting seven out of the top 10 most-viewed series, such as “Fool Me Once” and Taylor Sheridan’s “Landman”. Viewership for streaming franchises on other platforms significantly decreased.

Last year saw a 20% decrease in both the number of TV episodes and the total hours produced across all genres. Comedy, animation, and unscripted shows were particularly affected, while drama series held strong. Amidst these difficulties, The Acolyte, despite facing criticism and an early cancellation, demonstrated that there’s still a place for fresh success stories to emerge.

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2025-01-26 17:14