Which Streaming Service Won (And Which Lost) 2023?

Streaming services win some years, and they lose some years. But how did major platforms like Amazon Freevee, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Netflix, Paramount+, Peacock, Prime Video, and Showtime fare in 2023 specifically? Team Decider will be the judge of that!

You may recall our writers and editors assessed streaming rebrands, price increases, unexpected series cancellations, disappearing content, new series, existing libraries, and more key criteria needed to determine our personal winners and losers of 2023 back in July. But now that the year is nearly finished, we’re reevaluating our choices and taking 12(ish) months of streaming content and business decisions into consideration.

With the former WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes significantly impacting the television landscape, we understand that streamers had some added challenges in 2023. But looking back, it’s clear some platforms were still able to thrive — producing Emmy-worthy series and Oscar-worthy films — while others clearly faltered, inching closer to irrelevancy.

As the streaming wars wage on, here are Team Decider’s favorite (and least favorite) services of 2023. Plus, the verdict on each platform below and overall thoughts on the winners and losers.

• Alex Vena, News Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Hulu

  I still firmly believe Hulu has won 2023. While I personally continue to discover and binge older content — currently making my way through One Tree Hill — I also love Hulu for keeping me up to date on ABC shows, with its access to next-day streaming. Also, Parenthood is now on Hulu after a streaming hiatus… need I say more?

  I must give an honorable mention to Apple TV+ for Lessons in Chemistry, as it had me checking out the streamer weekly whenever new episodes dropped. If you haven’t gotten to watch the new series based on Bonnie Garmus’ incredible novel, definitely check it out!

  What to Watch on Hulu: One Tree Hill, Parenthood, The Bachelor franchise, How I Met Your Father

  Which service lost the year so far?: Paramount+

  Although I was close to taking advantage of their recent Black Friday deal, I have yet to feel like I need Paramount+ in my streaming selections. However, the Showtime extension does provide hit, new content like The Curse.

• Alex Zalben, Managing Editor

  Which service won the year so far?: Hulu

  In terms of the reality of whether Hulu will still be around in a year or two? That’s an open question. The ownership of the service is always in debate, it doesn’t have the streaming numbers of Netflix or even its compatriot Disney+. But what it does have is quality programming, quality movies, and a wide library of series that has recently expanded to include a ton of long-running legacy shows, now that that’s the new hotness. And while this could seem like a win for another service, the addition of Hulu to Disney+ is a big win for the brand. Maybe a net negative in the long term, but it elevates it to the level of a Marvel, Star Wars, or Disney, and that’s a good thing. Plus, it just means more people can watch the great shows and movies that FX and 20th Century (let’s be honest, that’s where most of the good stuff is coming from) are putting out.

  What to Watch on Hulu: The Bear, What We Do In The Shadows, The Great, LA Law, Prey

  Which service lost the year so far?: Max

  What even is Max at this point? Even if David Zaslav hadn’t damaged the overall Warner Bros. Discovery brand by canceling projects, ripping programs off his services, convoluting Max by removing HBO from the name and adding Discovery shows, I’m just not sure what the service is supposed to be. Even Prime Video seems to have more of an identity at this point, and that’s been the number one criticism they’ve suffered over the years. Compounding things is that WBD has licensed a ton of shows and movies, so Max isn’t even their exclusive home anymore. Plus, a recent announcement that some of HBO’s biggest shows aren’t coming back until 2025 does not bode well for the next year. Max worked from a deficit, became a winner, and now is taking nothing but unforced errors. I think all those sports metaphors were used correctly, but I am not sure!

• Angela Tricarico, Commerce Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Paramount+

  I know, I know. I’m as surprised as you are, but when I look back on the year in streaming, I find that I was opening up Paramount+ more than most other streaming services I have subscriptions to — and it’s not just because of my ongoing journey through Tom Cruise’s filmography. This year, Paramount+ fully integrated the Showtime catalog into its platform, which meant any new Showtime titles would begin streaming exclusively on Paramount+ and the Showtime back catalog would also be available in its entirety on Paramount+. Currently airing Showtime series Fellow Travelers and The Curse; a new season of my perennial fave, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars; and some of the best new Star Trek titles exclusive to the platform are just a few of the reasons why Paramount+ became my surprising go-to streamer in 2023.

  But I also have to give a shout-out to Apple TV+. The consistency in their slate of series and movies is remarkable — there really aren’t that many truly bad Apple TV+ originals. This year, they started strong with the new comedy Shrinking and are closing 2023 out on a high note with Lessons in Chemistry and The Buccaneers.

  What to Watch on Paramount+: Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Fellow Travelers, The Curse, Yellowjackets

  Which service lost the year so far?: Disney+

  I actually do use Disney+ fairly often, but I rarely opened up the app this year to watch something new and original to the service. Disney+ is great for a Pixar backlog binge and I’ll never say no to revisiting the films of the Disney Renaissance, but when it comes to brand-new, original content this year, I didn’t really connect with any of it.  If I want to watch a new Disney, Pixar, or Marvel movie, I typically see it in theaters, so not even the home streaming releases of Elemental or The Haunted Mansion were enough to move the needle on this for me. And though I have high hopes for the upcoming premiere of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, it probably won’t save what was kind of a mediocre year for the streamer.

• Anna Menta, Senior Film Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Netflix

  Far be it for me to admit I’m wrong, but my chosen loser for Decider’s mid-year streaming battle check-in, Netflix, managed to turn things around in the final half of the year. Despite the higher prices and crack-down on password sharing, people are still watching. And despite the lackluster content from the first half of the year, some of my favorite Oscar front-runners are streaming on the service right now. Leave it to Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman to save Netflix!

  What to Watch on Netflix: May December, NYAD, Rustin, Fair Play, Leave the World Behind

  Which service lost the year so far?: Disney+

  Look, I’m biased. I don’t have kids, and there isn’t a lot of non-kid-friendly content on Disney+. I’ve never been that streamer’s target audience. Nevertheless, I feel like Disney+ used to have at least a few hit shows that made their way into the mainstream pop culture conversation. This year, I heard almost nothing about it. Is anyone still watching The Mandalorian? Or Loki? Or Marvel movies? If they are, I haven’t heard about it!

• Josh Sorokach, Senior Entertainment Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Max

  I’m sticking with what I said for our midyear list: Max. Well, okay, technically my previous selection was HBO Max. Do I prefer HBO Max to Max? Yes. 100%. But my decision is based purely on one of the buzziest words of 2023: content. Max is the streaming home of five of my top ten shows of 2023 (Succession, The Last of Us, Barry, The Other Two, The Righteous Gemstones), a surplus of hidden gems, and is still a must-visit destination for truly iconic legacy content (Curb, The Sopranos, The Wire). When it comes to exceptional programming (and a truly staggering amount of well-deserved Emmy love), Max, by any name, is my top streamer of the year.

  What to Watch on Max: How To With John Wilson, Somebody Somewhere, Telemarketers, Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God, Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, Murder in Boston

  Which service lost the year so far?: Disney+

  Nothing personal against M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E; I just don’t find myself watching any Disney+ shows.

• Nicole Gallucci, Senior Entertainment Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Apple TV+

  This year, rather than split my vote between three streaming services again, I decided to award this coveted title to whichever platform had the most titles on my favorite shows of 2023 list. Hulu produced my top show of the year in The Bear and also came in clutch with next-day broadcast streaming of another must-watch, Abbott Elementary. HBO and Max were home to some of the best series of the year with Succession, The Other Two, and Barry. Amazon outdid itself with the final season of Prime Video’s Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Freevee’s Jury Duty. And Peacock hit the jackpot with Poker Face. While Apple TV+ series didn’t crack my Top 5, the streamer still took up the majority of real estate on my personal Best Of 2023 list, and thus, we crown it my winner. With new seasons of returning faves like Slow Horses, Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show, to a fresh slate of exciting new series including Shrinking, Silo, and Lessons in Chemistry, Apple TV+’s focus on the quality of originals over quantity continues to pay off in my book. That said, if I don’t get some Severance Season 2 updates soon both my Innie and Outie are going to scream.

  What to Watch on Apple TV+: My 2023 highlights include The Buccaneers, The Big Door Prize, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, Hijack, Lessons in Chemistry, The Morning Show, Shrinking, Silo, Slow Horses, Ted Lasso

  Which service lost the year so far?: Disney+

  I covered Apple TV+, Hulu, Max, Peacock, Prime Video, and even Amazon Freevee above. And although no Netflix series made my Best Of 2023 list, I watched a bunch this year. I headed to Paramount+ for the now-canceled Fatal Attraction, and I sprinted to my couch to devour Showtime’s stunning, heartbreaking limited series Fellow Travelers. But as I said in our midyear streaming check-in, I haven’t watched a single new Disney+ series or movie this year. I’m not even sure I can name one! Oh, wait — THE MUPPETS MAYHEM! I didn’t watch it. But it did inspire me to write an ode to Muppet Guys, so for that, I thank Disney+.

• Raven Brunner, Entertainment Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Showtime

  Let’s hear it for Showtime! The network-slash-streaming-platform has long been known for its signature sexy and diverse programming and high-quality storytelling. From prestige dramas to mind-blowing documentaries to understated dark comedies, Showtime truly has it all. The platform has stepped up its game towards the end of 2023 by releasing the all-star hit shows Fellow Travelers, which follows two forbidden gay lovers navigating romance during the height of McCarthyism in the 1950s to the AIDs crisis in the 1980s, and The Curse, a bleak comedy about two HGTV hosts who get allegedly cursed while launching a new eco-conscious initiative in New Mexico. Earlier this year, the streamer also picked up Neil Patrick Harris’ well-received series Uncoupled after it was canceled by Netflix and aired the second season of Yellowjackets. Big laughs, buckets of tears, the hottest (and weirdest) sex scenes – Showtime is a winner!

  What to Watch on Showtime: Fellow Travelers, The Curse, Yellowjackets

  Which service lost the year so far?: Disney+

  Sorry Disney+, but what the heck are y’all doing? When the streaming platform launched in 2019, its main attraction was as an archive for all of the Disney greats — be it princesses, Marvel, or old-school cartoons. But, as the streaming competition grew, the platform began releasing a plethora of original content geared towards kids, families, and Marvel fans. This year, Disney+ canceled several original shows, including Big Shot and The Mysterious Benedict Society, and filled its slate with a bunch of typical Marvel and Star Wars shows. The lack of quality, massive cancellations, and predictability doesn’t bode well for a streaming service that has had such a short lifespan. It’s an incredible feat to associate the brand “Disney” with “boring!”

• Samantha Nungesser, News Reporter

  Which service won the year so far?: Peacock

  Over the last year, Peacock has become my saving grace. Reality shows like The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Southern Charm and, of course, Vanderpump Rules are available on the NBC-owned platform for all to binge — and re-binge (especially after Scandoval shook the Bravoverse back in March and forced us all to go back to the beginning). Plus, those who subscribe to the streamer are given special access to extended, uncensored versions of Bravo reunions — a feat that was only brought about once the brutal Vanderpump Rules Season 10 reunion proved too entertaining to trim down. And let’s not forget about Peacock exclusives like The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, which is set to reunite the OG Real Housewives of New York City ladies later this month! In other words, Peacock simply has it all.

  What to Watch on Peacock: The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Southern Charm, Vanderpump Rules, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, and more

  Which service lost the year so far?: Netflix

  Netflix will always hold a special place in my heart — but it just takes too dang long for my favorite shows to come out with new seasons. Please bring back Bridgerton ASAP! 

• The Verdicts

  Decider’s staff has spoken, and with five votes against it, Disney+ was crowned our biggest loser of 2023. (A major pivot from July, when five staffers voted against Netflix.) Based on the votes we received, Netflix, Max, and Paramount+ received one strike against them, but no other service came close to the dissatisfaction we felt with Disney+ in 2023. Decider’s big winners? Once again, the team celebrated Hulu (with two winning votes) and Apple TV+ (with one winning vote and two honorable mentions). The team showed more widespread love this time around, with Netflix, Max, Peacock, Paramount+, and Showtime each receiving one winning vote. And despite our collective love of Jury Duty, when we took the whole year into consideration, Amazon Freevee fell from our tally list entirely. (Sorry, Ronald!)

  If you’re looking to splurge on a new streaming subscription in 2024 — or you’re simply looking to drop a platform or two — here are some crucial factors to consider, courtesy of Team Decider.

  Apple TV+: Winner

  As noted in our midyear assessment, despite Apple raising its monthly subscription, it’s still one of the best streaming deals you can get, especially considering its growing library of quality content. From the smart comedies, dramas, thrillers, and sci-fi series referenced above to major films like Napoleon and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Apple TV+ continues to take chances, book A-list talent, and rack up nominations and awards.

  Amazon Freevee: A Legacy Winner

  As noted, Amazon Freevee wasn’t voted an end-of-year winner or loser by Team Decider, but considering it won our mid-year assessment and produced one of our favorite TV shows of 2023 in Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky’s Emmy-nominated hit, Jury Duty, it’s safe to say it’s still a winner in our eyes. We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, but Amazon Freevee, formerly IMDb TV, was one of the biggest streaming surprises of the year. Watching a free, ad-supported service deliver such a remarkable, groundbreaking series really put the platform on the map. Here’s hoping more smash hits are in Freevee’s future.

  Disney+: Loser

  Considering we all voted on this independently, the fact that Disney+ received five losing votes — all of which, largely stressed the same frustrating points — is proof the streamer needs to step it up in 2024. There’s no denying that Disney+ has one of the best nostalgic libraries of all time, remains a favored option for families and Marvel fans, and got a win with the addition of Hulu. But the arguments against the service were giving big “Quick! For $1.00 name a 2023 Disney+ title!” vibes. Aside from focusing on securing more popular, memorable releases next year, Disney should also quit disappearing content and taking tax write downs for removing projects. The service also canceled several original shows, including Big Shot and The Mysterious Benedict Society. And we haven’t forgotten when Disney CEO Bob Iger said writers and actors on strike were “not being realistic” in their expectations. Yikes.

  Hulu: Winner

  Hulu had the show of the summer for a second year straight thanks to its brilliant collab with FX. And since the Best TV Shows of 2023 lists have started rolling out, it’s clear that The Bear remains beloved six months later. While the future and longevity of Hulu is uncertain (remember, we just crowned Disney a loser), the platform currently boasts a quality blend of new releases, engaging originals, a solid library, and access to 20th Century movies, Live TV, ESPN+, and next-day network TV streaming shows like FOX and ABC hits.

  Max: Split

  With 127 Emmy nominations, there’s no denying that HBO and Max gave us several of 2023’s greatest series with Succession, Barry, The Other Two, and The Last of Us. But the former three shows concluded this year, only for us to get The Weeknd and Sam Levinson’s controversial series The Idol. The legacy content is great, but on top of a confusing name change and an added mess of Discovery titles, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav opted to remove a significant amount of content from the platform for a tax cut, canceled a number of projects, and left a sour taste in subscribers’ mouths. As Decider’s managing editor Alex Zalben said, the platform seems to be in the midst of an identity crisis, and now that we know some of HBO’s biggest shows aren’t coming back until 2025 we’re left wondering what 2024 will look like for Max.

  Netflix: Split

  Halfway through the year we reported that despite earning 103 Emmy nominations, Netflix was overwhelmingly selected as Decider’s biggest loser due to the platform’s crackdown on password sharing, price increases, apparent embrace of quantity over quality, loose grip on top library titles like New Girl (which moved to Hulu this year in yet another win for Hulu!), and swift canceling of fan-favorite shows. Those things are still negatives, but in the second half of 2023 Netflix turned things around a bit by becoming a hub for Oscar front-runners. As Decider’s Anna Menta said, leave it to Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman to save Netflix!

  Paramount+: Split

  As noted halfway through the year, Paramount+ did deliver some compelling original series in 2023, but it also canceled several, including the intriguing Fatal Attraction. When Team Decider praised Paramount+, it was in large part because of the Showtime content it features. So congrats on that smart deal, but it’s really a compliment for Showtime. (Again, we’d be remiss if we didn’t reiterate the fact that if Paramount+ were able to stream Yellowstone, perhaps it’d be a game-changer.)

  Peacock: Winner

  Our midyear assessment remains true: For reality TV enthusiasts, NBC diehards, sports fans, and live event lovers, Peacock was a must-have streaming service in 2023. The library is extensive, with popular sitcoms like The Office and classics like Columbo, it’s a hub for all things Bravo, and much like Hulu and Freevee, Peacock hit the streaming jackpot with one of 2023’s best shows, Poker Face. The verdict seems to be that there’s something for everyone on Peacock. And when you’re picking and choosing from an overwhelming number of platforms, that simple fact goes a long way.

  Prime Video: The Forgotten Winner

  Earlier this year we wrote that Prime Video snagged 42 Emmy nominations for two of its platform-defining series — The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan — which both wrapped in 2023. And despite popular 2023 series like Swarm, I’m A Virgo, The Horrors of Dolores Roach, and The Summer I Turned Pretty — which many members of this team loved! — when it came time to vote on the winners and losers of the year, Prime Video wasn’t mentioned! The vibes seem to be generally positive about some key Prime Video programming in 2023, but in 2024 the streamer will have to work harder to maintain attention year-round.

  Showtime: Winner

  Showtime went from not being mentioned on Decider’s mid-year assessment to receiving several glowing shoutouts, one winning vote, and one honorable mention in a Paramount+ vote. Talk about a glow-up! Fellow Travelers, The Curse, and bold, sexy, diverse, high-quality content for the win. More of that in 2024, please!