Streaming Accounts for One-Third Of Viewing

State Of Streaming Play April 2022

Earlier this week a top Netflix exec suggested linear TV viewing (ie. broadcast and cable) could potentially end in the next 5-10 years. He may not be that far off.

Nielsen’s latest monthly snapshot of U.S. viewing habits has found that streaming now accounts for almost 34% of overall viewership – up from 28% compared to this time last year.

At the same time, cable television fell from 40% to 35% year on year while broadcast television sits at just over 22% – down from 26% last year. In both cases, these mark the smallest shares either broadcast or cable has ever recorded.

Time spent streaming per person reportedly jumped 23.5% on a year-over-year basis, while a number of major streaming services achieved record shares of viewing during the month. Compared to June last year Netflix was up 18%, Disney+ up 22% and Amazon Prime up 32%.

The return of broadcast originals and football will help boost broadcast in the Fall, but the overall trend seems to be streaming is taking over.

Source: Deadline