Web show sequels top streaming charts, mirror box-office trends
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : New seasons of established web franchises such as Mirzapur and Kota Factory are topping the charts on video-streaming platforms, mirroring a box-office trend where sequels such as Stree 2, Gadar 2, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 have been big commercial hits.
According to media consulting firm Ormax, the most-watched Hindi web series of 2024 is the third season of Mirzapur on Amazon Prime Video, with a viewership of 30.8 million, followed by the third season of Panchayat, on the same platform, with a viewership of 28.2 million. The list of the top 15 series also includes the third season of Kota Factory (15.8 million) on Netflix, the second season of Taaza Khabar (15.3 million), the fifth season of The Legend of Hanuman (15.2 million) and the third season of Mismatched (14.7 million).
Entertainment industry experts say an established fan base certainly helps good openings for successive seasons of web shows, but it is equally possible for fans to get disappointed and for shows to not get renewed despite plans for another season. “Sequels of successful OTT series start strong just like box-office hits as they already have an established fan base.
The impact (of the previous season) is huge, as the plot points and cliffhanger keep the audience on their toes. Even the characters you introduce each season impact the overall run of the show in a significant way," said Ujjwal Mahajan, co-founder, Chaupal, an over-the-top (OTT) platform specializing in Punjabi, Haryanvi and Bhojpuri content.
Initially, a spike in viewership is seen for subsequent seasons, Mahajan agreed, which usually beats the numbers of the previous seasons. However, a dip might follow if the audience loses interest,
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