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Netflix tweaked its viewership methodology, giving an edge to shows with split seasons like 'Stranger Things' and 'Ozark'

mike, eleven, and will in "Stranger Things 4," looking down at something with shocked expressions on their faces
"Stranger Things." Netflix
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Netflix recently tweaked its viewership methodology for its ranking of its biggest TV shows ever.

If a TV season is split into multiple parts, the company now combines the hours viewed for each part in the first 28 days of their availability.

"Since some titles have multiple premiere dates, whether weekly or in parts, we count the 28 days from each episode premiere date," Netflix says on its list website.

That's why "Lucifer" season five showed up on Netflix's list of top 10 most-watched English-language shows ever on Tuesday with 569 million hours viewed, even though the first part of the season debuted in 2020, and then the second part premiered in 2021.

After adding each part's first-month viewership, the season surged to No. 4 on the list.

"Ozark" season four, which was also split into two parts (the second part of which launched last month), landed on Netflix's overall top 10 English-language series list, as well, at No. 9 with a total of 480 million hours viewed.

The methodology change comes ahead of the debut of "Stranger Things" season four, which will be released in two parts. The first seven episodes land on Friday, and the final extra-long two episodes of the season debut on July 1.

Netflix has touted that season four will be "five hours longer" than any previous season.

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Travis Clark was a senior reporter covering the entertainment and tech industries on the Tech News team.Travis covered the companies, properties, and trends transforming and disrupting Hollywood, and how they interesect with the tech world.He's also a comic-book movie expert, and is interested in the evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Warner Bros.' shifting strategy for its DC superhero movies, for starters.Below is some of the work he's most proud of:Disney is shutting down the animation studio behind the 'Ice Age' movies. Some staffers say they're shocked at the lack of communication and feel betrayed that its final movie won't be released.Hulu insiders say a scrapped international expansion and changing culture have made them question what the streamer's future looks like under DisneyMarvel insiders say they're skeptical of its recent pledge to improve diversity in its comics and company, after employing only 2 Black editorial staffers in the last 5 yearsInsiders say major questions hang over DC Universe as its parent company prepares to launch Netflix rival HBO Max