This TV Service Has the Best Original Shows, Viewers Say

When people choose a streaming service, quality original programming is a top draw. And Netflix earns far and away the most praise from viewers who watch such shows, a survey finds.

A whopping 38% of viewers ages 16 to 34 say Netflix offers the best original programming, according to a survey from Hub Entertainment Research. That’s more than five times the percentage of younger viewers who cite the No. 2 choice, Disney+, at 7%.

Meanwhile, 24% of viewers 35 and older say Netflix is tops for original shows, three times the percentage of the No. 2 choice, CBS, at 8%.

Original programming is a prime reason that people gravitate toward streaming services. Among people ages 16 to 34, 70% say they are more interested in watching when they see the word “original” attached to a program.

Among people 35 and older, 53% say the word “original” makes them more interested in tuning in.

Recently, Netflix has been expanding its roster of original shows. According to viewers, the quality of Netflix programming has not suffered as it has added more fare. In fact, 48% of viewers say original Netflix programming is better than in the past, while just 16% say it is worse.

The Hub Entertainment Research survey also reveals the powerful inroads that streaming has made with younger viewers. When survey respondents were asked to name five networks they would keep if they couldn’t watch anything else, households with children overwhelmingly chose streaming services:

• Netflix: 40%
• ESPN: 24%
• Disney+: 23%
• Prime Video: 18%
• Hulu: 16%

By contrast, households without children were more likely to name traditional over-the-air networks:

• Netflix: 32%
• CBS: 30%
• NBC: 28%
• ABC: 26%
• ESPN: 18%

Are you considering cutting the cable cord or subscribing to another streaming service? Check out “This Search Engine Helps Cord-Cutters Find Their Favorite Shows.”