Movies

How HBO keeps ‘The White Lotus’ on our minds — and screens

BBG News

Amidst the era of continuous TV watching, HBO’s popular show “The White Lotus” is showcasing the strength of scheduled viewing on a weekly basis.

Many people have been tuning in to watch Mike White’s anthology series, which takes place at different high-end resorts each season, revealing the darker side of the wealthy guests’ behaviors. However, the release of a new eight-episode season every Sunday night has significantly boosted the show’s cultural relevance and viewership numbers, as HBO historically used this time slot to air premium TV content before Netflix became popular.

In February, Season 3 of “The White Lotus” was broadcasted, and it drew an average viewership of 19 million viewers across both traditional TV and streaming services. Interestingly, approximately 4 million of these viewers chose to watch it on HBO Max when the episodes were aired live. [Max will soon revert to its original name, HBO Max.]

Over the course of the show’s run, weekly viewership steadily increased, culminating in a massive 6.2 million viewers tuning in on April 6 for the finale – an increase of 51% over the Season 2 finale and nearly double the number who watched the series premiere. Such significant growth within a single season is uncommon, as noted by Jason Butler, senior vice president of global content and strategy at Max.

It appears that the increase in viewership shows that people were eager to tune in as soon as possible, wanting to engage in the ongoing discussions about the program in the broader community.

Butler explained to The Times that there’s a strong connection between consistent weekly viewers and growing excitement, just as one might anticipate.

Hollywood Inc.

Over the past year, subscription costs for Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and NBC’s Peacock have gradually increased, leading more viewers towards the advertisement-supported, on-demand streaming service operated by Fox, which is free to use.

Butler mentioned that Max is recognizing a common trend across its Emmy-winning show “Hacks” and the fast-paced medical drama “The Pitt,” which are both released weekly. He pointed out that Max’s most popular series, like “The White Lotus,” spark 50% more social media discussions during their season compared to shows that release all episodes at once for binge-watching.

It helps that “The White Lotus” offers up signature moments and catchphrases that are meme-worthy.

This season, I’ve been captivated by Parker Posey’s character, Victoria Ratliff, who’s become a TikTok sensation with an astounding 27,800 videos! Just like the iconic lines from previous seasons, such as “What are you doing? Texting,” and Jennifer Coolidge’s hilarious quote, “These gays, they’re trying to murder me,” that can be found on numerous T-shirts and hats available on Etsy, Victoria has truly carried the show on her shoulders.

HBO not only delivered a steady stream of content between episodes, but also published Monday morning recaps and interviews with cast members in various Hollywood trade publications. These discussions often delved into the characters portrayed by the actors. The Los Angeles Times produced close to 20 pieces, while the New York Times offered approximately 10 stories on Season 3.

For a week, tabloid websites turned the backlash of “The White Lotus” actress Aimee Lou Wood against the “Saturday Night Live” skit of the show into a sensationalized storyline, driving clicks and views.

After the last episode airs, Max joins many others in binge-watching. The viewership of “The White Lotus”‘s previous seasons skyrocketed by 15 times when the third installment premiered (and HBO has already commissioned a fourth season). According to Nielsen data, during the third season run, viewers streamed the entire series for approximately 800 to 900 million minutes per week.

Television

1. What’s going on with the Ratliff family? In Mike White’s HBO series, this is a question that arises as we follow the lives of the members of this family.
2. Why does Rick have to travel to Bangkok? The reasons for Rick’s trip to Bangkok are a central part of the plot in Mike White’s HBO series.
3. Who is the dead body found in the water? This is a mystery that unfolds as the story progresses in Mike White’s HBO series.

Max withholds data connections between a sequence and an increase in subscribers. However, by the first quarter of 2025, the subscription-based streaming service had amassed a total of 5.3 million new customers directly.

Engaging in continuous discussions about “The White Lotus” has undeniably influenced my personal choices when it comes to travel and fashion. I’ve found myself drawn to the exotic locations portrayed in the series, and I can’t help but be inspired by the stylish outfits donned by the characters. It seems that the show has a magnetic pull on our collective imagination!

During a recent presentation to advertisers in New York, Robert Voltaggio, Warner Bros. Discovery’s ad sales chief, highlighted that the show had a substantial impact on tourism to Maui, Sicily, and Thailand – places depicted in the series during its first three seasons. Additionally, visits to Four Seasons locations associated with the show experienced a surge of over 100%.

And of course, there is Victoria Ratliff’s caftan.

“The sales for that fashion brand spiked by almost seven times,” Voltaggio said.

No word on any spike in Lorazepam prescriptions.

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2025-06-02 13:31

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