Amazon has acquired MGM for a whopping $8.5B. So, we used our App Watchlist to check in on the ‘Streaming Wars,’ analyzing the performance of the top streaming apps.

We’ve written about the ‘Streaming Wars’ quite extensively over the last couple of years, using our various app intelligence solutions to gauge the state of play within the digital entertainment and streaming landscape. So, with Amazon breaking out their prodigious wallet to acquire the legendary Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios for a whopping $8.5 billion, we thought now would be a good time to check back in on the top competitors.

In this article, we’ll cover (click the links below to jump to the relevant sections):

• The Top Streaming Apps
• Analysis of the Top Streaming Apps
• Android Downloads (February 19th, 2022 - March 20th, 2022)
• iOS Downloads (February 19th, 2022 - March 20th, 2022)
• Final Thoughts
• Is Amazon Making an Advertising Play?
  

The Top Streaming Apps

1. Netflix by Netflix, Inc.

• Short Description: Netflix is the leading subscription service for watching TV episodes and movies.
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (Android): 27,316,748
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (iOS): 12,788,821
• Total Global Downloads: 1,000,000,000+
  

2. Amazon Prime Video by Amazon Mobile LLC

• Short Description: Watch TV shows and movies including award-winning Amazon exclusives.
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (Android): 9,281,858
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (iOS): 5,850,933
• Total Global Downloads: 100,000,000+
  

3. HBO Max: Stream TV & Movies by WarnerMedia Global Digital Services

• Short Description: Stream all of HBO with hit shows, classic favorites, and Max Originals!
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (Android): 6,951,428
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (iOS): 6,059,376
• Total Global Downloads: 50,000,000+
  
  

4. Disney+ by Disney

• Short Description: The best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (Android): 6,426,471
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (iOS): 5,915,626
• Total Global Downloads: 100,000,000+
  
  

5. Hulu: Stream TV Series & Films by Hulu

• Short Description: Discover movies, stream your favorite Hulu Originals & watch TV shows you love.
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (Android): 663,363
• Downloads Over the Last 30 Days (iOS): 974,176
• Total Global Downloads: 50,000,000+
  
  

For more mobile video streaming app insights, set up a meeting with one of our experts!

Analysis of the Top Streaming Apps

Android Downloads (February 19th, 2022 - March 20th, 2022)

Above you’ll find daily global downloads for the Android versions of the top five streaming platforms — Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu. In particular, this chart depicts global downloads between February 19th, 2022 and March 20th, 2022.

Currently, Netflix is far and away the most popular of the platforms, with 26,507,306 downloads over the last month. Amazon Prime Video came next with 9,413,393 downloads, followed by HBO Max with 7,263,802, Disney+ with 6,717,724, and Hulu with 697,448.

Likewise, Netflix had the best single-day performance, notching 1,816,439 downloads on February 19th. Moreover, Netflix generated well over 500,000 daily downloads for the majority of the last 30 days. Amazon Prime Video was the only other platform to surpass the 500,000 daily downloads mark, when it hit 612,815 on March 6th. As for the other apps, their best days were as follows:

• HBO Max: 449,828 downloads on March 6th.
• Disney+: 342,940 downloads on March 6th.
• Hulu: 73,146 downloads on March 6th.
  

As an aside, it’s not clear what drove the March 6th spike. However, a quick Google search does reveal that that was the day Netflix shut down its services in Russia. Perhaps that press was good enough to lift the entire streaming world. In any case, let’s move on to the iOS apps…

iOS Downloads (February 19th, 2022 - March 20th, 2022)

Just like the previous chart, this one depicts global downloads for the iOS versions of the top streaming platforms between February 19th, 2022 and March 20th, 2022.

Once again, Netflix led the way with 13,661,296 downloads. However, in this case, the gap between Netflix and the field was less extreme; and indeed, among the runners-up, there was a little more parity. Check it out: Disney+ had 6,684,931 downloads, HBO Max had 6,024,623, Amazon Prime Video had 5,863,700, and Hulu had 1,069,775.

As for single-day performances, Netflix again set the high-water mark with 482,293 downloads on March 12th. However, while the iOS version of the app didn’t attain the heights of the Android version, it was a little more consistent. Indeed, in the period charted above, Netflix never fell below 400,000 daily downloads. Here’s where the rest topped out:

• Disney+: 292,038 downloads on March 14th.
• HBO Max: 262,158 downloads on February 22nd.
• Amazon Prime Video: 211,684 downloads on February 21st.
• Hulu: 45,025 downloads on March 18th.
  

Notably, there’s no March 6th spike for the iOS versions of these apps.

Final Thoughts

One thing that jumps out when reviewing our data is that Amazon Prime Video — successful though it may be — has struggled to stand out from the crowd. What’s more, it’s a long way off from truly taking on the likes of Netflix.

Perhaps the acquisition of MGM will help close the content gap. Afterall, the roaring lion presides over a vast catalog of 4,000+ movies and 17,000+ TV show episodes. And these aren’t lightweights, either. MGM’s resume includes blue chip franchises like “James Bond” and “Rocky,” iconic Hollywood classics like “Gone With the Wind” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,” and binge-worthy shows like “Vikings” and “Fargo.”

Is Amazon Making an Advertising Play?

However, pundits speculate there’s an ulterior motive. Namely, advertising. Amazon Prime Video isn’t the tech giant’s only streaming platform. They also own IMDb TV, which offers free, ad-supported content, including thousands of Hollywood movies and TV shows.

IMDb TV is critical to Amazon’s ad business — it’s a key reason Amazon is able to place ads in front of 120 million streamers per month. But its catalog doesn’t hold as much sway over streamers as those of Netflix and Disney+. That could change pretty quickly, however, if Amazon were to publish MGM’s full repertoire to the platform. Indeed, by luring streamers to IMDb TV with the above mentioned titles, the value of IMDb TV ads (and Amazon’s digital ad business as a whole) would almost certainly explode.

In any case, whatever direction Amazon eventually takes, this move officially puts Netflix, Disney, HBO, and Hulu on notice. How things eventually shake out is anyone’s guess. All we can say is… stay tuned!