Netflix's “Stranger Things” takes the global TV crown as Crave's “Heated Rivalry” and HBO's “IT: Welcome to Derry” break through
LOS ANGELES - September 29, 2026 - GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS, the global authority on record-breaking achievements, and Parrot Analytics, the global authority on media, IP valuation and entertainment intelligence, today announced the six global television record holders featured in GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2027. The record holders were identified using Parrot Analytics’ worldwide audience demand measurement across the 12 months from January 10, 2025, to January 9, 2026.
Netflix’s Stranger Things was named the world’s most in-demand TV show, recording a global demand rating 103.6 times greater than that of the average television show worldwide. HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry set the record for the most in-demand debut for a TV show, reaching 88.3 times average demand during the 30 days following its October 26, 2025 premiere. Crave’s Heated Rivalry was recognized as the most in-demand romantic drama TV show at 45.7 times average demand.
The book also recognizes three enduring audience favorites. Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants was the most in-demand children’s TV show at 47.6 times the average global audience demand, NBC’s The Voice (US) was the most in-demand reality TV show at 37.6 times, and Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive led documentary television at 20.5 times.
“What stands out about this year’s television records is the extraordinary range of stories audiences embraced - from a landmark final season and a chilling new franchise chapter to a breakout romance, global sports storytelling and programmes that have entertained viewers for years. Parrot Analytics gives us a consistent worldwide benchmark with which to recognize these achievements and celebrate the audiences behind them,” said Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS.
Viewed together, the records capture both the intensity of a breakthrough moment and the value of sustained audience appeal. From new franchise chapters and breakout originals to a landmark final season and series that have remained culturally relevant for years, they show why a common global measure is needed to compare very different forms of television success across platforms and markets.
“Every platform sees only its own part of the audience, making it increasingly difficult to understand how content is performing across the wider entertainment market. Our global intelligence creates a shared view of that market, revealing which titles are breaking through, which franchises are sustaining value and where audience momentum is building. Those signals underpin our broader decision intelligence, helping leaders understand each title’s economic contribution, forecast revenue, assess commercial viability before capital is committed and make higher confidence decisions across financing, acquisition, renewal and distribution,” said Samuel Stadler, VP Marketing at Parrot Analytics.
Parrot Analytics quantifies global audience demand by combining billions of data points reflecting audience attention, consumption and engagement across multiple touchpoints into a standardized global measure. Each demand multiple shows how much more audience demand a record holder generated than the average television show worldwide. Five records cover January 10, 2025, to January 9, 2026; the IT: Welcome to Derry debut record covers the 30 days following a show’s premiere.
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2027 launched on September 10, 2026. For availability by market, visit guinnessworldrecords.com/products/books.
About Guinness World Records
What’s the fastest game bird in Europe? This was the question that inspired the founding of Guinness World Records back in 1955. Starting with a single book published from a room above a gym, GWR has grown to become a global multi-media brand, with offices in London, New York, Beijing, Tokyo and Dubai. Today, we deliver world-class content, not just through books, but via TV shows, social media and live events. Our in-house consultancy works closely with brands and businesses around the world to harness the power of record-breaking and deliver award-winning campaigns and business solutions. Through our in-house production arm, GWR Studios, we create standout content for broadcasters, brand partners and digital platforms. GWR Entertainment brings the best of the GWR brand to life in a diverse range of live experiences where visitors can discover and even attempt official world records. Whatever the medium, our ultimate purpose is to make the world a more interesting, fun and positive place. To join this record-breaking community – and find out the answer to that original question – visit guinnessworldrecords.com.
For Guinness World Records, contact:
Press Office – press@guinnessworldrecords.com
About Parrot Analytics
Parrot Analytics is the global authority on media, entertainment and sports intelligence, providing the strategic decision support that the world’s leading studios, producers, streamers, investors, sports organizations, government bodies and brands rely on to de-risk investment and maximize returns.
Trusted across the global media economy - from studios and streaming platforms to film funds, sports leagues and government bodies - Parrot Analytics informs capital allocation, acquisitions, programming and distribution strategy, and the valuation of IP and rights at the highest levels of the industry.
Measuring the demand and preferences of more than 2 billion audiences worldwide, Parrot Analytics’ enterprise-grade AI platform - with safeguards that keep customer data from being used to train general-purpose AI models - quantifies the value of content, talent, franchises and sports rights. This enables partners to forecast revenue, assess risk, optimize portfolio strategy and deliver predictable success.
For Parrot Analytics, contact:
Samuel Stadler
VP Marketing
samuel@parrotanalytics.com
