Shōgun Breaks Records with Massive Premiere on Hulu and Disney+
Shōgun, the highly anticipated FX series, has taken the streaming world by storm. With glowing reviews and positive word-of-mouth, the show’s two-episode premiere has garnered a staggering 9 million views across Hulu, Disney+, and Star+ in just its first six days of availability. This announcement came from Disney yesterday, solidifying Shōgun’s position as a record-breaking series.
Hulu’s Biggest Premiere
Shōgun’s premiere on Hulu has become the platform’s biggest debut for an FX series in the United States, surpassing the previous record set by The Bear Season 2. Additionally, it has claimed the title of the number one series premiere internationally for a scripted show from Disney General Entertainment, a group that includes FX, ABC, Disney Channel, and Freeform.
It is important to note that the 9 million viewership figure includes the audience from Hulu on Disney+, the company’s new streaming service bundle. Despite this inclusion, Disney proudly stated that Shōgun premiered “just” ahead of The Bear Season 2, thanks to the additional viewership. The “views” metric used to measure these numbers is defined as total stream time divided by runtime and has gained popularity among streaming companies like Netflix.
Impressive Numbers
Shōgun’s premiere numbers are not only impressive when compared to other FX series but also when measured by other metrics. According to data provided by audience data company Samba TV, 1.8 million households in the United States watched the first episode of Shōgun on Hulu within its first five days of availability. The second episode saw a viewership of 1.1 million households on Hulu.
Samba TV’s measurements place Shōgun ahead of other notable premieres. It surpassed the Season 2 premiere of Reacher on Prime Video, which was viewed by 1.7 million households in its first five days. Shōgun also outperformed the first episodes of Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, which garnered 1.4 million households, and One Piece, which captured the attention of 986,000 households.
A Strong Start for Shōgun
With these various metrics pointing to its success, it is evident that Shōgun has had a strong start. The historical drama series, based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name, is currently airing on Tuesdays on both FX and Hulu following its two-episode premiere.
IGN, a prominent entertainment outlet, gave all 10 episodes of Shōgun a perfect score of 10/10. Samantha Nelson, the reviewer, praised the show for prioritizing intricate character development over combat, resulting in a captivating and visually stunning tale of intrigue set in feudal Japan.
In conclusion, Shōgun has made an indelible mark on the streaming landscape with its record-breaking premiere on Hulu and Disney+. The show’s compelling narrative, combined with its stunning visuals and strong character development, has captivated millions of viewers worldwide. As Shōgun continues to air, it is poised to solidify its place as one of the most successful series of the year.