HBO show reverses mid-pandemic slump in interest in genre
It’s hard to say how big a hit”last of usThe HBO show had 45.4 times more demand than the average title in the first quarter, according to data from Parrot Analytics, making it more popular than 99.8% of other TV shows this year, according to consumer research, streaming, download and takes into account social media, among other engagements.
Demand for Apocalypse Titles, US, 2020-2023 (Parrot Analytics)
There are many explanations for the show’s success, ranging from its high production values to the video game’s existing fan base it was based on, to the continued power of HBO’s Sunday night programming. But the most interesting aspect of its success may have been the hunger it rekindled in viewers for a timeline greater than our own.
Demand for apocalypse shows increased impressively in early 2020, but stalled after September 2021. It is possible that the audience wanted a lighter fare after a year and a half through a global pandemic. After flatlining in 2022, demand for apocalypse shows picked up again in 2023, driven mainly by “The Last of Us”. Demand for the genre is set to increase by 60% in March 2023 compared to January 2020.
New Show Demand, US, Q1, 2023 (Parrot Analytics)
As early as 2023, “The Last of Us” has some shows in effect.Velma“The second most sought-after series that premiered this year had less than half the demand of the No. 1 crime drama”poker face,” Peacock’s most successful show of the year, followed in third place.
The remaining shows in the ranking come from a variety of genres: “Daisy Jones and the Six,” a musical drama; anime “Trigun Stampede”; “Shrink,” a family drama; “Babefin,” the children’s show; “Boy’s Planet,” a Korean reality show; “The Ark”, a sci-fi drama, and “Night Court”, a reboot of the classic sitcom.
Daniel Quinod is a Senior Data Analyst at Parrot Analytics, a RapPro Partner. For more from Parrot Analytics, Visit the Data & Analytics Hub,
