Hulu, not Netflix, is best streaming service for quality TV, according to new study

Hulu

• A recent study found that Hulu is the dominant
  streaming service when it comes to television.
• Netflix isn’t far behind, but Hulu has the most shows
  and offers the most “quality” shows at the best value,
  according to the study.

Despite Netflix’s efforts to bombard its subscribers with content
— it wants to have 1,000 original shows and
films by year’s end — a new study suggests it’s not the
leading streaming service in quality television.

According to the study from online-streaming guide Reelgood, that designation goes to Hulu. Reelgood
examined which streaming service out of five — Netflix, Amazon
Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, and Showtime — offered the most
television shows, and then broke it down to which offers the most
“quality” television for what users pay.

Reelgood found that Hulu’s full television catalog offers the
most shows at around 1,800. So it leads in quantity, but what
about quality?

The study defined a “quality” show as being in the top
20,000 most popular titles on Reelgood, along with having a 6.5
score or higher with a minimum of 300 votes on IMDb. It went a
step further, too, and characterized a high-quality show
as the same, but with an IMDB score of at least 8. 

It found that Hulu has both the most quality and
high-quality shows. Hulu easily came out on top with nearly 800
quality shows compared to Netflix’s 500, but it barely edged out
Netflix in the latter category.

Reelgood

Reelgood

Reelgood also looked at what service provides the most
quality television at the best value for
subscribers. 

Hulu costs $12 a month while Netflix costs $10.99. But
according to the study, subscribers get the most bang for their
buck with Hulu when looking at the total number of shows
available for each dollar spent.

When it comes to quality and high-quality shows for the
best value, Hulu wins the former, while Hulu and Netflix tie for
the latter. 

Reelgood

Reelgood

So while Netflix isn’t exactly out of the race, Hulu comes out on
top in the end. There is a clear loser, though, as was the case
with Reelgood’s film study:
Showtime came in last in each area of the study.