Average Gap Between Streaming Seasons Has Doubled to About 21 Months

Overview

• Ampere Analysis reported this week that the average wait between scripted streaming seasons has roughly doubled over the last decade to about 21 months, with that figure plateauing in 2024–2025.
• The report, published Wednesday, cites high‑profile franchises such as Netflix’s Stranger Things, Netflix’s Wednesday, and Apple TV+’s Severance as examples of shows with unusually long gaps.
• Shows with gaps longer than 30 months produced the biggest launch engagement, with Ampere noting viewing of Stranger Things rose about 300% ahead of its final season’s release.
• The same Ampere survey found 54% of U.S. respondents would be likely to cancel a service over long waits, a pattern that Dentsu/IGN research links to younger viewers who often cancel and re‑subscribe to follow a single title.
• Ampere’s analysts advise balancing ‘event’ series that demand long VFX-driven schedules against a steadier flow of content because production shocks such as COVID‑19 and the 2023–24 U.S. strikes amplified the recent rise in gaps.