Despite DStv and Netflix dominating the streaming services market in South Africa, the highest-rated content is not even among the top three in terms of subscriber numbers.
Apple TV+ ranks behind Netflix, DStv, and Prime Video in terms of user base, yet the service consistently offers shows with the highest ratings currently available. These projects directly compete with major original Netflix series such as 'Stranger Things,' which often receive inflated scores due to the large audience attracted by the streaming giant.
While Netflix focuses on an extensive library of films and series, Apple has prioritized quality over quantity for many years. Projects like 'Pluribus' (7.9), 'Silo' (8.1), 'Severance' (8.6), 'Ted Lasso' (8.7), and 'Widow’s Bay' (8.1) boast exceptionally high scores on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).
A comparative analysis reveals a general trend: 'Stranger Things' holds a rating of 8.6 from 1.7 million users, whereas 'Ted Lasso' surpasses it with a rating of 8.7, despite having only 470,000 users. This comparison is telling, as both series are flagship hits for their respective platforms.
This does not mean that Netflix lacks brilliant content—it certainly has it—but subscribers must search for these rare masterpieces amidst a large volume of lower-quality content. Analyzing a flagship project like 'Stranger Things' illustrates how a dominant platform can negatively affect narrative development. The series, which aired from 2016 to 2025 with a massive budget, consists of only 42 episodes.
Although episode ratings naturally fluctuate in any series, Apple TV+ maintains a remarkably high and consistent standard. By delivering superior storytelling with a relatively smaller volume, Apple proves that it is not just competing with content, but quietly redefining what quality streaming should be.