The Australian animated children’s series Bluey has made a significant impact on international streaming platforms, securing the second position in the United States’ most streamed shows for 2023.
The data, recently released by Nielsen in their annual Top 10 Streaming Programs list, highlights Bluey‘s remarkable growth on Disney+, where it doubled its viewing time from the previous year, reaching 43.9 billion viewing minutes.
In the 2023 Top 10 Acquired Streaming Programs in the US, Bluey ranked second, just behind the legal drama Suits, according to Nielsen. Notably, Bluey‘s success comes in a year marked by strikes within the Hollywood writers and actors’ communities, which didn’t affect many animated series including Bluey and Cocomelon. This advantage allowed Bluey to surpass Cocomelon, previously the leading program for kids in 2021 and 2022, by doubling its viewership in 2023.
BBC Studios expressed their delight on LinkedIn over Bluey‘s significant leap in popularity, reflecting the series’ global appeal and the collaborative efforts behind its production. Furthermore, Nielsen reported a 21% increase in total streaming content by Americans, reaching 21 million years’ worth of consumption in the past year.
Despite the resolution of the Hollywood strikes, Nielsen anticipates that the volume of new content available to audiences in the coming year will not reach the levels seen in 2022, which was considered a peak year for scripted programming.
Originating from Brisbane, Australia, Bluey has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, irrespective of age. The show is a collaborative effort between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Children’s and BBC Studios Kids & Family, with Joe Brumm at the helm of its creation.
Production is led by the Ludo Studio, in partnership with Screen Queensland and Screen Australia, under a global broadcasting agreement with Disney Branded Television. This arrangement ensures the show’s availability on Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney+ for viewers outside Australia, New Zealand, and China.
Gee, it’s almost as if the ratings will show that American families are absolutely craving wholesome family entertainment with no social, political, sexual or DEI agendas shoehorned in there to appease a minority of adults without children.