New SVOD Data Site Shines Light on Netflix

In the UK, film industry researcher Stephen Follows has launched a web site called VOD Clickstream, providing analysis of the subscription video on demand (SVOD) sector.

London-based Follows (pictured) has worked in the film industry for twenty years, and specialised in bespoke film research and data analysis for the past decade. His new free-to-access site allows users to join in forums, sign up for newsletters relating to SVOD research, and access his team's analysis.

While developing the site, Follows acquired historical anonymised data charting user activity on Netflix over a three-and-a-half-year period, and the site features a series of studies based on this and looking at film, television and comedy content, including insights into how sci-fi movies performed and the most popular TV genres. In order to analyse and interpret the raw data, comprising 610 million clicks from viewers worldwide, Follows says he assembled 'a team of astrophysicists' with experience of working with large quantities of data, including data scientists Alejandro Celis and Jack Tann, and lead scientist and theoretical physicist José Eliel Camargo-Molina.

Follows says he initiated the project in response to the scarcity of data released by VOD providers, adding: 'Traditionally creators have been empowered to make creative decisions based on audience feedback and ratings, however, streaming has upended this system and platforms like Netflix are able to control the flow of information. We passionately believe that filmmakers, 'creators' and producers have a right to know how audiences are responding to VOD content. In the short-term, we hope this project provides some valuable insight and in the long-term, we hope it spurs the platforms to share more data'.

Web site: www.vodclickstream.com .