(Global TMT March 21, 2023) According to the latest research report “Analysis of Investment Value of Online Original Works by Streaming Media Companies 2022” published by Omdia Digital Content and Channel Intelligence Service, content production for the world's major online streaming media rebounded in 2022 after being hit by production delays and cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
Online originals and streaming times compared to Netflix and other streaming media
In 2022, Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Paramount+, and Peacock released a total of 1,752 titles, with a total length of 4,878 hours of original content. Compared with the same period last year, the number of works increased 60% and the length increased 87%.
Netflix was the most prolific original content production company in 2022. A total of 935 titles were released, with a total duration of 3,531 hours, of which more than 50% were from countries other than the US. According to Omdia's evaluation, the first original series was released in 2012LilyhammerSince then, Netflix has launched over 14,000 hours of original content production.
How streaming companies are investing in original content in various regions of the world
Omdia estimates that the value of 935 online original content released by Netflix in 2022 (not necessarily produced in that year) reached 5.8 billion US dollars. Furthermore, Omdia estimates that 42% of this total is invested in streaming companies outside of North America, with Europe and Asia and Oceania investing $1.1 billion and $1 billion, respectively.
This is the third year in a row that Amazon has published more non-US original works on Prime Video than US originals. In 2022, Amazon released 203 works, with a total duration of 764 hours, the highest annual total in the company's history.
Tim Westcott, senior chief analyst at Omdia, said, “The increase in original content production is mainly driven by two factors: the first is the final launch of new productions delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the other is the continued international launch of D2C services supported by film and television studios (such as Disney+, HBO Max, and Paramount+).”
The total number of original works published by other vendors increased to 614 in 2022, an increase of 44% compared to the same period last year. Most of these works are from the US. HBO Max, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, produced more than 30% of these 614 works, while Disney+ contributed 19% of the works.
“Whether we'll see the same growth this year remains to be seen as Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney both face shareholder pressure to cut spending and curb losses from strategic transformations entering the streaming market,” Westcott said.