Streaming Surpasses Cable & Broadcast TV Viewership

Streaming Surpasses Traditional TV in U.S. Viewership

A recent report by Nielsen indicates that streaming services have, for the first time, exceeded the combined viewership of cable and broadcast television within the United States, as of May.

Record Share for Streaming

During the past month, streaming platforms captured 44.8% of all television viewing time, representing their highest market share recorded to date.

Conversely, traditional cable and network television collectively accounted for 44.2% of total television viewership.

Significant Growth Trends

A comparison with May 2021 reveals a substantial 71% increase in streaming usage.

In contrast, broadcast television viewership experienced a 21% decline, and cable television saw a more significant drop of 39% during the same period.

Leading Streaming Platforms

YouTube emerged as the leading platform in terms of viewership, securing a 12.5% share.

Netflix followed closely behind, capturing 7.5% of the total television viewership for the month.

The Rise of Free Streaming

Nielsen highlights the crucial role of free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services in driving the overall success of streaming.

Platforms such as PlutoTV, Roku Channel, and Tubi collectively contributed 5.7% to the total television viewing in May.

Key Takeaways

• Streaming now dominates U.S. television viewership.
• Growth in streaming is outpacing declines in traditional TV.
• Free streaming services are a significant contributor to the streaming boom.