Streaming services now account for more than a third of all TV-watching, and kids home for summer are inflating that figure more.
Streaming represented 37.7% of all TV-watching in June, Nielsen says. The data firm releases a monthly analysis of viewing habits for both traditional TV and streaming.
That makes streaming the largest category, ahead of cable, broadcast, and the “other” category, which includes video games, DVDs and everything else.
Following is a look at the most popular streaming services as of June 2023.
3. Hulu
Usage of this service as a share of all TV usage: 3.5%
Hulu’s audience grew faster than those of other services during the pandemic, and it now consistently represents more than 3% of all watched TV.
Often paired with Disney+ and ESPN+ but available on its own, Hulu plans without live TV range from about $8 per month to $20 per month.
2. Netflix
Usage of this service as a share of all TV usage: 8.2%
Over the past year, there’s been little change in Netflix’s popularity relative to other streaming services, from 8% in July 2022 to 8.2% now. We’ve explained “4 Reasons People Are Quitting Netflix,” and the streaming giant just provided another — by killing off its cheapest ad-free tier.
New and returning customers will now have to choose between paying $7 per month to stomach ads, or more than double that to avoid them.
1. YouTube
Usage of this service as a share of all TV usage: 8.8%
YouTube, arguably the original streaming service (debuting in 2005 before Netflix shifted away from DVDs), has seen bigger trend upward compared with Netflix.
It has grown from a 6.7% share of TV viewing in July 2022 to an 8.8% share now, and surpassed Netflix in popularity this February. YouTube has held onto the streaming crown since then.
One likely reason is that YouTube’s price has remained low: free. The company does offer an ad-free subscription with video downloads, but it has never required one.
Other popular services
Nielsen also highlighted several other streaming services which each represent close to or more than 1% of TV audiences:
- Amazon Prime Video: 3.2%
- Disney+: 2.0%
- Max: 1.4%
- Tubi: 1.4%
- Peacock: 1.2%
- Paramount+: 1.0%
- Roku Channel: 1.0%
- Pluto TV: 0.9%
For more options, check out “21 Streaming Services That Are Completely Free.”
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