Benzinga - by Chris Katje, Benzinga Staff Writer.
The Max streaming platform from Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD) has been enjoying an uptick in viewers ever since "Friends" actor Matthew Perry passed away on Oct. 28.
What Happened: Nielsen data ranks "Friends" seventh among the top acquired series among all streaming providers. The comedy series, which ended in 2004, was watched by viewers for 583 minutes on Max the week of Oct. 23 to Oct. 29, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
This was a 31% increase from the previous week and the highest minutes total since early February 2023.
Related Link: Warner Bros. Discovery Shares Fall, Max Subscribers Drop – Could ‘Underused’ Harry Potter Franchise Help A Turnaround?
Why It's Important: A show surging in viewership after a star’s death isn't a huge surprise, as it has happened before for television shows and movies.
Benzinga previously reported that the hit Netflix series "The Crown" saw a surge in viewership after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the royal figure profiled in the fictional show.
The surge in viewership could be impressive, given it was less than two days of viewership since the time Perry's death was announced. He was 54.
The report for the following week could see an even bigger lift for Max and the series, as fans have likely been binge-watching the beloved comedy, which aired for 10 seasons and 234 episodes.
Perry was one of the six leading actors who appeared in each episode as Chandler Bing.
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