Survey: Netflix Beats Out HBO for Best Original Programming

NEW YORK: For the first time in six years, Netflix has surpassed HBO in having the “best original programming,” according to a survey by Morgan Stanley.

The percentage of the survey population picking Netflix as best in original programming increased from 23 percent last year to 29 percent this year, moving the service ahead of HBO, which came in second at 18 percent.

Following HBO, Showtime, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video were all selected by roughly 5 percent of the survey as having the best original programming. Starz was at 2 percent.

The survey measured only original programming from non-cable and premium networks, not traditional TV networks or licensed programming. It included 2,501 adults from the U.S.

The survey also finds that Netflix members continue to be heavy TV consumers, and actually over-index to premium networks when compared to the overall survey population. Nearly 50 percent of those in the survey self-identified as Netflix members also identified as HBO subscribers, followed by 35 percent taking Showtime.