There was a time when “TRP” ruled Indian television. If families kept the TV on at 8 PM and ratings looked good, the show got another year, another season, sometimes even a thousand episodes.
But OTT changed the rules completely. Here, nobody cares about TRP. There’s no BARC panel, no prime-time slot, no weekly chart.
OTT platforms have their own silent universe where everything runs on numbers you and I never get to see – watch time, skip rate, rewatch percentage, episode drop-off, binge speed, weekend spikes, and even pause behaviour.
That’s the new TRP.
And this new TRP quietly decides which shows get a Season 2… and which shows die without a goodbye.
If you’ve ever wondered why a show you loved didn’t get renewed while a random average story suddenly returned with a new season – the answer is hidden inside OTT’s algorithm room.
Let’s break down the latest series sitting in that Season 2 discussion zone and how the platform decides their future.
The Railway Men
Image : IMDb
IMDb Rating : 7.8/10
Star Cast :
Madhavan, Kay Kay Menon, Divyenndu, Babil Khan
Release Year : 2023
OTT Platform : Netflix
It’s a tightly told dramatization of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy where railway workers become unexpected heroes. No unnecessary melodrama, no dragging scenes.
Why Watch :
Because this is that rare Indian series that focuses on storytelling, not trend-chasing.
Netflix is internally tracking how quickly people finish all episodes – and this one had solid completion numbers, which is why many industry reports say Season 2 (anthology format) might happen.
Killer Soup
Image : IMDb
IMDb Rating : 6.7/10
Star Cast :
Manoj Bajpayee, Konkona Sen Sharma
Release Year : 2024
OTT Platform : Netflix
A chaotic and almost bizarre crime-comedy that only actors like Manoj & Konkona can deliver without making it look forced.
Why Watch :
If you enjoy unconventional plots, this one keeps surprising you.
Netflix usually renews shows that get a cult conversation going and this one definitely pulled that off.
Sultan of Delhi
Image : IMDb
IMDb Rating : 6/10
Star Cast :
Tahir Raj Bhasin, Mouni Roy
Release Year : 2023
OTT Platform : Jio Hotstar
Gangsters, smoky retro frames, old Delhi charm, and a plot that feels like early 2000s Bollywood.
Why Watch :
Season 1 felt like a buildup. Hotstar checks “episode completion rate” more than IMDb reviews and this one maintained surprisingly steady numbers. That’s why it’s being spoken about internally for Season 2.
Poacher
Image : IMDb
IMDb Rating : 8.1/10
Star Cast :
Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew
Release Year : 2024
OTT Platform : Prime Video
A grounded show that treats wildlife crime like a real investigation, not a dramatic thriller.
Why Watch :
Because this one hits you emotionally without screaming for attention. Prime generally pushes shows that attract global audiences, and Poacher earned a lot of international respect – good sign for renewal talks.
Criminal Record
Image : IMDb
IMDb Rating : 7.4/10
Star Cast :
Peter Capaldi
Release Year : 2024
OTT Platform : Apple TV+
A British crime thriller that moves patiently but rewards you with mature storytelling.
Why Watch :
Apple TV+ renews only high-retention shows. This one climbed fast in global charts, so chances of a follow-up season look strong.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, OTT platforms don’t operate on emotions, hype, or fan requests. They operate on pure behaviour. How you watch, how long you stay, where you pause, when you drop off-every small action becomes data, and that data becomes the new TRP.
The crazy part is… we never get to see these numbers.
We only see whether a show gets Season 2 or quietly disappears after one round.
Some shows with brilliant acting and strong stories never return-not because they weren’t good, but because people didn’t finish them fast enough. And some completely average shows get renewed because they had strong weekend spikes or good completion rates. That’s how the OTT world works now. It’s not unfair; it’s just a different rulebook.
But for us viewers, this new system isn’t all bad.
We’re getting better stories, riskier ideas, and fresh experiments because platforms are willing to try new things. They aren’t stuck with the old TV mindset where one flop meant no second chances. Here, a show can still survive if the binge numbers look good. And with so many new series dropping every month, we have more choices than ever.
As OTT keeps growing, this secret TRP is only going to get sharper. Platforms will know exactly what we like, when we like it, and how much attention we give it. They won’t need TRP boxes or family panels anymore-the viewer’s behaviour itself becomes the rating.