Korean and Spanish series are captivating global audiences, emerging as the top non-English language content on Netflix, according to Omdia’s analysis of "What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report" for 1H 2024. Korean shows now account for 8.71% of all non-English language content consumption on the platform, with Spanish-language content following closely at 7.11%. This popularity represents an astonishing 8.19 billion viewing hours for Korean content and 6.69 billion hours for Spanish shows, with 3.28 billion hours coming from Spain.
Spanish language viewing hours amounted to more than double the combined viewing hours of French, German, and Portuguese content altogether. These figures underscore the growing global appetite for non-English original content.
"Netflix has played a significant role in expanding the appetite for diverse content," noted Maria Rua Aguete, Senior Director of Media and Entertainment at Omdia. "In particular, Spanish content has gained worldwide popularity and is now associated with quality and engaging storytelling. Thanks to this shift and shows like Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) and more recently the film: Society of the Snow ( La Sociedad de la Nieve); Spanish content is now reaching international audiences on an exceptional scale. It is successful globally and not only in Spanish speaking countries."
Additionally, Omdia’s analysis found titles from Spain were the most popular Spanish-language content on Netflix, accounting for 49% of the platform’s Spanish-language offerings. Following Spain was Colombia, which contributes 19%, and Mexico, which provides 18% of Spanish-language content.
Among the top 10 most popular Spanish-language titles on Netflix, seven were from Spain while three hailed from Colombia. The Spanish titles included "Berlin: Season 1" (Berlín: Temporada 1), "Society of the Snow" ("La sociedad de la nieve"), "The Asunta Case: Limited Series" ("El caso Asunta: Miniserie"), "Raising Voices: Season 1" ("Ni una más: Temporada 1"), "Wrong Side of the Tracks: Season 3" ("Entrevías: Temporada 3"), "Iron Reign: Season 1" ("Mano de hierro: Temporada 1"), and the hit "Money Heist: Part 1" ("La casa de papel: Parte 1"). The Colombian entries were "Pablo Escobar, el patrón del mal: Season 1", "Pasión de Gavilanes: Season 1", and "Café con aroma de mujer: Season 1".
As Netflix continues to invest in global content, the success of Korean and Spanish series highlights the platform's ability to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, captivating audiences worldwide. The strong demand for Spanish-language content, particularly from Spain and Colombia, reflects a growing appreciation for high-quality, diverse storytelling. With hits like "Money Heist" and "Society of the Snow" leading the charge, it's clear that non-English original content is no longer a niche, but a driving force in global entertainment. As this trend continues, the influence of these regions on the global stage will only deepen, further shaping the future of streaming.
Related News
