BTS Comeback Live on Netflix draws 18.4 million viewers worldwide, tops weekly charts

The live broadcast of BTS’s comeback performance, marking their return after four years, was watched by 18.4 million viewers worldwide.

Netflix announced on March 24 that 'BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG' recorded a total of 18.4 million viewers, including both real-time streams and views within 24 hours after the broadcast ended.

The broadcast featured BTS’s comeback stage held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 21.

According to Netflix’s official website, the show recorded 13.1 million views last week (calculated by dividing total watch time by runtime), ranking No. 1 among non-English programs by a wide margin.

It topped weekly charts in 24 countries, including Korea, Mexico, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Bulgaria, and also placed within the Top 10 in a total of 80 countries.

Netflix reported that BTS-related content on its official channels garnered 2.62 billion impressions, while hashtags related to BTS and Netflix trended across multiple countries, including the United States, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.

U.S. entertainment outlet Variety commented, “The success of ‘BTS Comeback Live: Arirang’ is no surprise,” adding, “BTS sparked a global phenomenon four years ago, and this marked their first official full-group performance since then.”

BTS entered a hiatus in December 2022 as the eldest member, Jin, began his military service, followed by all seven members fulfilling their mandatory duties.

All members were discharged or completed their service by June last year, returning with their fifth full-length album, 'Arirang.'

Netflix is also set to release a documentary titled 'BTS: The Return' on March 27, showcasing the group’s journey in preparing the album.