For the week of Nov. 7, Netflix’s Manifest amassed 2.3 billion viewing minutes across 52 total episodes, up 67% week-to-week. With the release of its fifth season, Netflix’s The Crown tallied a hair over 2.1 billion minutes across 50 total episodes, to place a close second.
The conglomerate burned tons of promotional jet fuel, only to drive a ratings hit for Netflix and wind up with nothing for itself.
Manifest will live on. After weeks of negotiations, Netflix has closed a deal for a super-sized fourth and final season (20 episodes) of the missing plane drama, which will be available exclusively on the streamer worldwide. In a nod to Manifest‘s fans, whose passionate support helped resurrect the show following its cancellation by NBC, the announcement of the Season 4 pickup by Netflix was made on so-called “828 Day” (8/28) — when the series about the mystery of Flight 828 is celebrated annually — at 8:28 a.m. PT.
Manifest‘s big run on Netflix continued in the week of June 28-July 4, as the canceled NBC series again topped the overall streaming rankings from Nielsen. Loki also rebounded in its fourth week, claiming the No. 1 spot among original streaming shows.
The canceled NBC series again ranks No. 1 in Nielsen’s metric for the week of June 21-27. For the second week in a row, the first two seasons of Manifest recorded more than 2 billion minutes of watch time on Netflix — marking some of the highest tallies for an acquired show since Nielsen began releasing weekly rankings 10 months ago.
Exclusives
Just weeks after NBC canceled the sci-fi drama after three seasons, TVLine confirms that the network has restarted talks with Warner Bros. Television about a possible Season 4. As an added twist, Deadline reports that Netflix is also taking part in the renewal talks, signaling a possible mutually beneficial arrangement between NBC and the streamer.
Nielsen said Thursday that Manifest on Netflix ran away as the most streamed program for the week of June 14-20 — the same week it was canceled by NBC after three seasons. The cult hit sci-fi drama drew almost 2.5 billion viewing minutes for the two seasons currently available on the streamer that week, swamping everything in its way.
After lengthy conversations and deliberations that stretched into this week, Netflix has opted not to order a fourth season of Manifest following the series’ cancellation by NBC after three seasons, sources said. The streaming giant, which recently released the first two seasons of the missing plane drama, had been considered the most viable option for Manifest. With that, Manifest studio Warner Bros. Television has concluded its efforts to find a new home for the series.
NBC has opted not to renew missing plane drama series Manifest for a fourth season. The decision came down Monday night, just hours before the options on the cast were to expire Tuesday and amid a strong showing of Manifest on Netflix where it has been No. 1 in the U.S. for the past three days.
NBC is firming up the remainder of its scripted lineup. The network on Monday night handed out a third-season to bubble drama Manifest as it also canceled three rookie series: Bluff City Law and comedies Sunnyside and Indebted.
That brings the show’s Season 1 episode count to 16. Though shows are typically ordered for 22- or 24-episode seasons on broadcast, this is not always the case. For example, NBC’s hit drama This Is Us has aired 18-episode seasons throughout its run.
