Amazon's Pricey 'Wheel of Time' Rolls Up Big Audience

Amazon's 'The Wheel of Time'
(Image credit: Amazon Studios)

Amazon hit the mark with its expensive series adaptation of fantasy novel series The Wheel of Time.

The first three episodes of The Wheel of Time, which posted on Amazon Prime Video on Nov. 19, generated 1.163 billion minutes of viewing time in the U.S., according to Nielsen. 

The show, which comes with a reported $10 million-per-episode price tag, was the second most popular SVOD program in the U.S. behind Netflix's mega-popular Red Notice for the week of Nov. 15-21. Red Notice has gone on to become Netflix's most popular English-language film ever in its first 28 days on platform.

The Wheel of Time, an adaptation of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's eponymous early-1900s fantasy novel series,  is produced by Sony and Amazon Studios. 

The first eight-episode season wraps on Friday, Dec. 24.

Nielsen

(Image credit: Nielsen)
Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!