The Unbelievable Longevity of a Show: Still Dominating Netflix Years After It Ended

Summary

It was watched for 2.3 billion minutes in the aforementioned period.

The ongoing strikes have brought to light an issue: streaming success does not necessarily lead to fair compensation for the writers and actors involved.

Currently, the most-watched series on Netflix is Suits, a legal drama that concluded its run four years ago. Created and penned by Aaron Korsh, Suits first premiered in June 2011 on the USA Network. The story initially revolved around Mike Ross (played by Patrick J. Adams), a college dropout who never attended law school, and Harvey Specter (portrayed by Gabriel Macht), as they skillfully tackled and resolved cases while keeping Mike's secret hidden. This captivating drama spanned nine seasons consisting of 134 episodes and also featured talented actors such as Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Amanda Schull, and Gina Torres.

Nielsen's weekly streaming rankings validate Suits as the top-performing show for the week of June 19-25. Nielsen's data indicates that viewers spent 2.3 billion minutes watching the series during this period, which coincided with its debut on Netflix. Notably, this impressive figure encompasses both the viewership on Peacock, where Suits is also available. Nevertheless, it signifies the first time in nearly four months that a title has surpassed the two billion mark in the Nielsen Streaming Top 10. The previous show to achieve this feat was The Night Agent, a Netflix original series.

How Suits' Success Connects To The Ongoing Hollywood Strikes

Suits is just the latest addition to Nielsen's streaming charts, joining the ranks of other popular dramas like Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, and The CW's All American. Alongside these, Supernatural and Gilmore Girls also attract a significant number of viewers. Many theories attempt to explain why older or more established shows continue to perform well. One explanation suggests that amidst the constant influx of new series every month, viewers prefer to delve into something familiar with ample episodes to offer.

Streaming success, despite being undeniable, often fails to benefit the creators. Even with the triumph of creating one of Netflix's biggest hits, The Night Agent creator Shawn Ryan revealed that the success did not bring about any substantial financial incentives. Similarly, Ellen Pompeo from Grey's Anatomy criticized Netflix for not providing residuals. The streaming rankings and Netflix's Top 10 lists should not be used solely as a means for streaming platforms to boast about viewership; they should also result in fair compensation for all those involved in creating the most popular shows.

This fair compensation should not only be reserved for the top producers and cast members, but should also extend to the lesser-known guest actors and staff writers who rely on residual payments to bridge the gaps between jobs. While it is admirable that Suits experiences an increase in viewership through streaming on Netflix, it is essential that this success is channeled back to the individuals who made the series possible.

Source: Nielsen