It’s going to be a really interesting few years for FlixPatrol and analysts all around the world. With the recent expansion of the major SVOD platforms, clashing of SVOD, TVOD and AVOD in the major markets, Streaming Wars are moving into Defcon 1, if we decide to keep the military slang going. Netflix may have lost some subscribers, but its headstart can’t be overlooked. The number one SVOD platform can still correct its course and even if it looks like Disney+ will move much closer after its soon-to-be-announced earnings call, current numbers of streaming app downloads keep Netflix way ahead. Disney+ is second, slightly ahead of the HBO Max app, and with Amazon Prime Video in the fourth position.
Then it depends if you are using Android or iOs. Android users like Pluto TV (a very popular AVOD platform), while iOS ones favor Star+ or Canal+. Big Asian platforms like Tencent Video or iQIYI are in the lower ranks, but there are more distribution channels for apps in Asia, so that is not as relevant. iQIYI and Tencent Video should be ahead of HBO Max considering the number of monthly users or subscribers. Is it even comparable? Hard to say. And speaking of comparison, Netflix is now the most transparent of the major SVOD platforms because it has its own web with weekly viewing figures. HBO Max or Disney+ only release some idea of the viewership if their movie or show is really, really successful and it’s always relative just to the rest of their catalog. Lucky for you and us, there are a lot of numbers just laying around that we can dig into and analyze. Keep us in your bookmarks, ladies and gentlemen. The race is only just starting.