With so many streaming services competing for consumers attention. There has no doubt been a rise in the production of original content. But is that what people want to watch? Well according to a data analysis from 7Park Data and shared by Variety, that is not the case.

Their study shows that viewers prefer to watch reruns of television shows. It states that 80% of Netflix U.S. viewings comes from licensed content, with 20% from original shows like the hit Stranger Things or House of Cards. Overall, 42% of Netflix subscribers mostly only watch licensed content. That is based off 95% of their total streaming. On the flip side, the percentage of viewers mainly streaming original content is at 18% of customers. This data is based off a 12 month period that concluded in September of 2017.

Even with hit shows like Stranger Things, the study showed that the majority of Netflix U.S. subscribers still stuck to licensed content. When the first season of Stranger Things debuted, licensed content was still 63% of television viewing. Overall the study shows that consumers aren’t necessarily looking for something new. but something familiar. Some of the top shows during the study were Breaking Bad, Grey’s Anatomy, The Blacklist, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Criminal Minds, Supernatural, The Flash, and Friends.

Despite what the data shows, Netflix is continuing to heavily invest in their original content. David Wells, the CFO for Netflix has projected that they will have about 700 original series globally this year. This is expected to cost them up to a whopping $8 billion dollars. With their long-term goal of spending 50% of their budget on original content. During an investor conference in February Wells stated that he believed that the original content was what was “driving growth”. Their commitment to this is very evident as in one year starting in September of 2016 to the end of the study the original content in the U.S. went up from 12% to 20%.

It’s noteworthy to point out that according to 7Park’s study some of the most popular original shows during that time frame were Stranger Things, Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, Marvel’s Luke Cage, Marvel’s Defenders, Marvel’s Iron Fist, 13 Reasons Why and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

It’s interesting to see what people are what people are watching. Some shows like The Office or Grey’s Anatomy are watched over and over by their fans. The question is should Netflix be focusing so much on original content that sometimes just fails to grab peoples attention? Or should they stick to giving consumers familiar titles that so many seem to gravitate to?

What do you watch on Netflix? Let us know in the comment section below!

ALSO SEE: WHAT DOES THE EXODUS OF ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING FROM DISNEY XD SAY ABOUT THE NETWORK’S FUTURE?

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Source: Variety