Despite a disappointing subscriber loss in the first quarter and expectations that Q2 will be even worse, Netflix again topped the Solutions Research Group (SRG) annual “Must Keep TV” list for the fourth consecutive year, beating broadcasters ABC and CBS while fellow streamers Peacock and Paramount Plus gained the most ground among viewers.

SRG’s annual “Must Keep TV” research is based on 1,400 interviews with U.S. consumers aged 12 and older and was conducted in late April 2022. This is the 15th edition of the research since its inception in 2007.

While the top 10 networks and programmers in 2022 remained the same as in prior years, there was plenty of movement otherwise, with TV brands like The CW (rising five spots to No. 13), AMC, Cartoon Network, A&E, TBS, ION and Syfy all showing strong momentum.

Paramount Plus made the biggest move, rising from the 37th spot in 2021 to the No. 12 position in 2022. Peacock, which Comcast’s NBCUniversal launched in 2020, rose from No. 29 in 2021 to No. 16 this year. According to SRG, the only major steamer that didn’t make the top 20 or make a major leap in the rankings was Apple TV Plus, which rose two spots in 2022 to No. 31 from No. 33 in 2021.

Among women aged 25-54, streamers took six of the top 10 “Must Keep TV” spots, more evidence of how that delivery mechanism is gaining dominance in the space. Paramount Plus was the newcomer at No. 10, while Netflix, Hulu and ABC secured the top three positions, followed by Amazon Prime Video, CBS, NBC, Disney Plus,  Fox, and HBO Max.  

HGTV was bumped out of the Top 10 for the first time since 2016, while other brands that lost ground in the demo include Food Network (No. 18, down seven spots), Hallmark, PBS, AMC, History and Nickelodeon.

Brands with strong momentum among women 25-54 include Disney (No. 11, up from No.  20), CW (No. 13 this year, up from No. 27), Peacock (No. 15 up from No. 18) and Lifetime (No.7 vs. No. 32 last year).

Netflix topped the charts among Black audiences for the third year in a row, followed by ABC, CBS, Fox and Prime Video. Newcomers to the segment include The CW and Disney Plus and BET maintains its Top 10 standing among Black audiences, coming in at No. 8 for the year.

Netflix came in first place for Latinx audiences for the fifth year in a row, with Hulu, Prime Video, ABC and Fox rounding out the Top 5. ESPN regained its spot in the Top 10 this year, in the No. 10 position, while Telemundo and Univision continued their strong showings, ranking No. 11 and No. 13 in the segment.

Streamers and networks also showed strength with Asian-American audiences, with Netflix, ABC, NBC, CBS and Prime Video leading the way. ESPN ranked No. 9 and is the top cable network in this segment, while CNN came in 10th.

For LGBTQ2+ audiences, Netflix, Prime Video and Hulu took the top three spots, followed by broadcaster ABC. Networks CBS and NBC are ranked No. 7 and No. 8 respectively, while CNN made a strong showing in the eleventh spot. Paramount Plus and Peacock came in at No. 10 and No. 15, respectively.

Among Americans with disabilities, Netflix is again in the No. 1 spot, followed by ABC and CBS. Prime Video, NBC, Fox, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Max and Paramount Plus round out the top 10. ■

After three years of steadily climbing up the charts, SVOD pioneer Netflix took the top spot in Solutions Research Group’s 13th annual “Must Keep TV” ranking, ousting broadcaster ABC from the pole position.

SRG said it conducted 1,400 online interviews across the country between May 22 and May 26 with consumers aged 12 and older, a little more than two months into the coronavirus lockdown where most had a good chance to consume their regular brands and sample some new options.

According to SRG, respondents are shown a list of 79 broadcast, cable and high-penetration streaming brands and are asked to identify which ones would be on their “must keep TV” list if they had to choose a limited number.

While Netflix took the overall lead, broadcasters made up the rest of the top five in the rankings, with ABC No.2, followed by CBS, NBC and Fox. Amazon Prime Video was No. 6 and Disney Plus, which launched on Nov. 12, debuted at No. 13 on the list.

ESPN was the top cable brand (No. 8 overall) for the 13th year in a row, despite the lack of live sports programming during the lockdown. PBS was ranked No. 9 and CNN came in at No. 10 as viewers increasingly tuned in news during the pandemic.

Disney Plus was the most significant momentum brand of the year, placing 13th among the total 12+ population – a higher entry position than Amazon Prime Video and Hulu which entered in No. 14 and No. 22 respectively in 2017 when they were added to the lists.

Other brands on the rise in 2020 include Discovery, Food Network, Cartoon Network and FX, SRG said. Big gainers included TLC, which leaped from No. 41 last year to No. 21 this year and MSNBC, which rose from No. 46 to No. 39 this year. Brands that lost ground include AMC, The CW and HBO. According to SRG, HBO fell from the top 10 for the first time since 2013.

Overall, Netflix was No. 1 with adults aged 18-34 for the fourth year in a row, followed by Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, ABC, and Fox.

Netflix continued its three-year streak as the top brand for men aged 18-49, followed by ESPN, ABC, Fox and CBS. Amazon Prime Video and Hulu placed No. 6 and No. 8, respectively in this demo. and Amazon Prime Video and Hulu, which each rose two spots in the rankings for that demographic.