NPACT 2021 Network Survey Results
NONFICTION PRODUCERS’ ORGANIZATION NPACT RETURNS TO ITS ANNUAL NETWORK/STREAMER RANKING SURVEY, ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR 2021
ID Emerges as Producers’ Favorite Network to work with Overall
HULU, CBS, HBO, Nickelodeon, History, HBO Max, ID, NatGeoWild, truTV, and Netflix
Lead This Year’s List Based on Overall Averages across Categories
LOS ANGELES – (Jan. 24, 2022) – NPACT, the trade association for non-fiction production companies doing business in the U.S., today announced the results of its 2021 annual network/streamer ranking survey. Traditionally, at the end of every year, NPACT canvasses producers of unscripted, documentary and reality series to gauge collectively their favorite networks and streaming platforms across numerous categories.
NPACT returned to the annual initiative after pausing in 2020 when the survey asked just a single question related to the most positive network-producer partnerships during the pandemic (in alphabetical order, Bravo, Discovery, HBO Max, and Netflix were producers’ top four responses).
This year’s survey results are based on 2021 activity and categories have been pared down to: Pitching process (this year, specific to Zoom/video conference); Development; Greenlighting process; Business Affairs; Production Oversight/Notes; Production Management; and Finance. The final category cites producers’ favorite networks/streamers to work with Overall.
Respondents were asked to rank only those networks they worked with in 2021. Forty-nine production companies rated 66 networks/platforms in eight categories.
For the first seven questions/topics, producers rated each network/platform on a scale from one to 10, with one representing the least positive response and 10 representing the most positive. Final rankings represent the average scores for each network/platform.
RESULTS
-- ID was rated producers’ favorite network to work with overall, based on individual preference rankings (producers were asked to rank networks/platforms from Best to Deal With Overall to Most Difficult)
-- Based on overall averages across all survey categories, the leaders were: HULU, CBS, HBO, Nickelodeon, History, HBO Max, ID, NatGeoWild, truTV and Netflix
-- Hulu was cited in the top 10 across more categories than any other network or platform
- CBS and History tied for second place; HBO, HBO Max, and ID tied for third place
-- ID led the rankings for Zoom/Video Conference Pitching Process
- Followed by Viceland, SundanceTV, TLC, OWN, WEtv, E!, Hulu, CNN, and History in the Top 10
-- Nickelodeon was first in the category of Program Development
- Followed by Hulu, YouTube Originals, Viceland, CBS, HBO Max, HBO, USA, Peacock, and ID
-- Hulu led in Greenlighting process
- Followed by CBS, ID, Disney+, Peacock, WEtv, VH1, Magnolia, USA, and History
-- National Geographic was #1 in Business Affairs
- Followed by Showtime, HBO Max, Apple, Hulu, Disney+, truTV, AMC, History, and NatGeoWild
-- NatGeoWild was first in Production Editorial Oversight/Notes
- Followed by YouTube Originals, HBO Max, Hulu, CBS, HBO, ID, Showtime, PBS, and OWN
-- truTV led in Production Management
- Followed by History, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, Fox, CBS, HBO Max, Paramount+, Hulu, and HBO
-- BET was #1 in Finance
- Followed by WEtv, NatGeoWild, HBO, CBS, Travel, Hulu, History, Viceland, and truTV
Said NPACT General Manager Michelle Van Kempen, “Responding to the immense challenge of producing during the pandemic, unscripted was the first sector to come back, and come back safely. Much changed as a result of these challenges and this year’s survey is an opportunity to spotlight our network and streaming partners that have adapted in a producer-friendly way. It’s also a chance to evaluate what’s working well in the production world, and where there’s room for improvement as we work together to navigate the ‘new normal.’”
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*Note to Editors:
Networks marked as “Not Applicable” (N/A) received too few responses in the respective categories to provide a statistical average and, therefore, were not ranked in those specific categories.
About NPACT
NPACT is the trade association for nonfiction production companies doing business in the U.S. Its members are comprised of production companies of all sizes, as well as allied services companies. NPACT serves as the voice for the nonfiction creative community, providing a forum for producers as they navigate changes in media and tackle business issues.
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