Netflix is making changes to how it ranks its top 10 shows and movies. Instead of using total viewing time as the ranking factor, the company will now rank them based on “views.” Netflix defines views as the number of hours viewed divided by the total runtime of a title.
The decision to include views alongside hours viewed was made in response to feedback, as it provides a more relatable metric for many people. Starting from June 21, the Top 10 lists will be ranked by views, while still displaying hours viewed per title.
The qualifying time for the lists will also be extended from one month to three months to account for titles that gain popularity over time. Netflix acknowledges that there is no perfect streaming metric but believes that combining views with total hours viewed is a good approach.
It considers engagement as the best measure of member satisfaction and retention, which is vital for its business. The company aims to offer consistency and transparency in what people are watching, providing better insights into streaming success for consumers, creators, analysts, and the press, despite the varying run times of movies and series.
