Friends is still the most watched show on Netflix

Dave Hanratty

Everything old is new again, and apparently just as enjoyable…

Netflix are known for being especially secretive when it comes to information that clearly illustrates what exactly we’re all binging on.

In October, global marketing research firm Nielsen unveiled a new service that revealed Netflix viewership figures to other networks for the first time, only for the streaming giant to reject the data.

“The data that Nielsen is reporting is not accurate, not even close, and does not reflect the viewing of these shows on Netflix,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

In adopting a ‘cards close to the chest’ policy, it is difficult to gauge what exactly constitutes the most popular movies and TV shows on the platform, outside of occasional released figures by Netflix itself.

A new report from Ofcom in the UK has provided some clarity, and the results aren’t terribly surprising.

The Media Nations report 2018 reveals the most-watched programmes on subscription streaming services, having surveyed 2,500 viewers in the UK.

At the top of the list? Why, it’s Friends, of course.

The news follows the release of all 234 episodes of the wildly popular sitcom, which has seen some people view the show as hugely problematic through a 2018 lens.

Despite those complaints, Friends reigns supreme, as does Netflix, with eight of the top 10 shows available on the streaming service.

Amazon, by contrast, has two; The Grand Tour and Vikings.

There’s a pretty decent return for The Big Bang Theory, too, despite it being awful. Elsewhere, there’s no major shocks, with big hitters like Stranger Things, Peaky Blinders and Black Mirror all in championship contention.

One arguable downside is the lack of Netflix original content such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, given the amount of money the company has dedicated to their exclusive programming.

It is estimated that Netflix has spent $6.8 billion in 2018 alone as they continue to invest in TV and film, with has resulted in some highly acclaimed efforts and some quite dreadful rubbish.

The full top 10 most-watched shows according to the Ofcom report are: