Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Netflix is now the U.K.’s most popular streaming service

By

Netflix Announcement
Netflix
“Netflix and chill” may have originated in the United States, but it’s really taken root in the United Kingdom, where the video streaming service is now the top dog. While other web-based platforms have tried to give Netflix a run for its money (looking at you, Hulu and Amazon Prime, and HBO Now), at least when it comes to the U.K., the red and white really does reign supreme. According to a new report from British TV ratings agency Barb, more than 5 million British homes used Netflix in 2015, whereas just 1.6 million subscribed to Amazon Prime Instant Video and fewer than 1 million took to Now TV, provided by Sky.

These impressive figures for Netflix translates to its presence in almost one out of every four U.K. households, and by 2019, business researchers at IHS suggest that Netflix will hit around 7.5 million subscribers. And with 1.5 million new watchers in 2015 alone, this upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing.

Recommended Videos

Already, Netflix has established itself as the entertainment system of choice in around 200 countries, and with the overwhelming popularity of original shows including House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, it’s no wonder new binge watchers are signing up in droves to get in on the action.

And expansion is certainly on the forefront of the streaming service’s mind. “Based on our forecasts,” says Richard Eary, the UBS head of European media equity research, “We expect Netflix will spend more on content globally than the top seven commercial broadcasters in Europe by 2018-19.” Given the streaming service intends to spend around $5 billion on content this year (almost double its $3 billion budget last year), UBS’ predictions seem reasonable.

The U.K. certainly appears to be an area of focus for the California-based company, as Netflix is allegedly spending 100 million pounds on The Crown, the very first original U.K. drama produced by the streaming service. Based on Peter Morgan’s The Audience, the royal biopic will star Wolf Hall’s Claire Foy and former Doctor Who actor, Matt Smith.

So binge away, U.K. watchers. You’ll have more than enough content to keep you occupied for years to come.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lulu Chang
Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The best thrillers on Netflix right now
Mark Wahlberg in Patriots Day.

If you're looking for thrills and chills to beat the summer heat, then Netflix's killer lineup of thrillers is waiting for you. Netflix produces more original thrillers than almost any other major film category except rom-coms. The almighty Netflix algorithm tells the site's executives which genres are popular, and thrillers have to be near the top of that list. Netflix has also made deals with rival studios to bring in some theatrical thrillers to add more depth to the streamer's library.

For the month of June, we've added Patriots Day and A Simple Favor to this list, as well as classic thrillers Wild Things and Fatal Attraction. And you can find even more in this roundup of the best thrillers on Netflix right now.

Read more
Like the Netflix crime show Bodkin? Then watch these three mystery series now
Three people stand in the countryside in Bodkin.

Perhaps the most common genre of TV show is the crime series. Whatever else TV viewers tend to like, they're almost guaranteed to love a show about a murder being solved. Because there are so many crime shows out there, though, they can actually take a bunch of different forms.

Shows like Netflix's Bodkin combine the trappings of the crime show with a lighter tone. It follows a group of podcasters as they investigate a murder in a small Irish town. We've found three shows that have something in common with Bodkin, whether it's the show's comedic vibe or its focus on a very particular place. If you liked what Bodkin had to offer, these shows are a great place to start.
The Afterparty (2022-2023)
The Afterparty — Official Trailer | Apple TV+

Read more
The 10 most popular streaming services, ranked by subscriber count
The Netflix home screen.

Let's start this with a caveat or two: If you're going to compare streaming services merely by the number of subscribers they have, it's not exactly a fair fight. Not all services are available in the same places. Nor does the number of subscribers really address the "worth" of a streaming service. Or whether it's easy to use, or if the apps are any good. Or, for that matter, if a given streaming service has what you want to watch, which really is the only measure necessary.

Still, it's interesting to keep up with how things are doing from a global perspective, especially when you have relatively young upstarts like Apple TV+ gaining so many accolades in an industry dominated by Netflix.

Read more