NPACT: ID Rated Unscripted Producers’ Top Network to Work with Overall

NPACT, the trade association for nonfiction production companies doing business in the U.S., has revealed the results of its 2021 annual network/streamer ranking survey.

This year’s survey results are based on 2021 activity, with categories including pitching process (specific to Zoom/video conference); development; greenlighting process; business affairs; production oversight/notes; production management; and finance. The final category cites producers’ favorite networks/streamers to work with overall, which saw ID take the top ranking.

Based on overall averages across all survey categories, the leaders were Hulu, CBS, HBO, Nickelodeon, HISTORY, HBO Max, ID, NatGeoWild, truTV and Netflix. Hulu was cited in the top ten across more categories than any other network or platform, with CBS and History tied for second place; and HBO, HBO Max and ID tied for third place. ID led the rankings for Zoom/video conference pitching process, followed by Viceland, SundanceTV, TLC, OWN, WEtv, E!, Hulu, CNN and HISTORY in the top ten.

Nickelodeon took first in the category of program development, Hulu in greenlighting process, National Geographic in business affairs, NatGeoWild in production editorial oversight/notes, truTV in production management and BET in finance.

In total, 49 production companies rated 66 networks/platforms across eight categories. For the first seven questions/topics, producers rated each network/platform on a scale from one to ten, with one representing the least positive response and ten representing the most positive. Final rankings represent the average scores for each network/platform.

Michelle Van Kempen, NPACT’s general manager, said: “Responding to the immense challenge of producing during the pandemic, unscripted was the first sector to come back, and come back safely. Much changed as a result of these challenges, and this year’s survey is an opportunity to spotlight our network and streaming partners that have adapted in a producer-friendly way. It’s also a chance to evaluate what’s working well in the production world, and where there’s room for improvement as we work together to navigate the ‘new normal.’”