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Apple TV+ drama 'Defending Jacob' reportedly setting records

Chris Evans in Defending Jacob

While Apple has not revealed any viewing figures for Apple TV+, industry sources say the new "Defending Jacob" drama is a hit with higher viewing figures, and audience engagement, than most shows on the service.

"Defending Jacob" is a gripping slow-burn drama on Apple TV+ and industry sources say that it's proving to be one of the service's most compelling shows with high viewing figures and viewer retention.

Hollywood entertainment publication Deadline cites unnamed sources saying that most viewers who sample the show come back for more. The first three episodes of the series were released on May 1 and reportedly the vast majority of viewers watched all of them.

Then what Deadline describes as nearly all of them, came back to watch episode 4 when it was released the following week.

Aside from people who watched on release date, sources say that the audience grew by five times during the show's first 10 days of being available. This reportedly puts "Defending Jacob" behind only "The Morning Show" as the most popular series on Apple TV+.

The first five episodes of "Defending Jacob" are now available on Apple TV+, and the remaining three are due to be released weekly on Fridays.



20 Comments

Beats 4 Years · 3073 comments

If true, then I'm not one bit surprised. I don't know why people expected Apple to have a lineup of hit shows on day one, then called a failure for not having more hit shows than Netflix or Disney(yes Apple is being compared to Disney's century of content.)

Hit shows will come organically. Common sense, man.

SpamSandwich 19 Years · 32917 comments

How would Deadline have any access to viewer data unless Apple leaked it to them?

randominternetperson 8 Years · 3101 comments

How would Deadline have any access to viewer data unless Apple leaked it to them?

Presumably from third-party monitoring companies like Neilson (if there are competitors to Neilson). 

CloudTalkin 5 Years · 916 comments

How would Deadline have any access to viewer data unless Apple leaked it to them?

That is a possibility since they claim "unnamed sources".  Another possibility could be tracking data gathered from smart TV's.

ITGUYINSD 5 Years · 550 comments

We've enjoyed Jacob but one of the best on ATV+?  Not so sure about that.  For us, Servant was our favorite (with Dickenson a close 2nd).  Truth Be Told and For All Mankind also good.