Streaming surpasses cable and broadcast TV combined for the first time
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Jun 18, 2025
For the first time, streaming overtook traditional TV viewership, as platforms like YouTube and free ad-supported options drove the shift.
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People in the U.S. spend more time watching streaming services like Netflix and YouTube
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than they did watching broadcast and cable TV combined for the first time ever, according to Nielsen
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The data shows in May 2025, streaming accounted for the largest portion of TV viewing ever recorded
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44.8 percent of all TV watching. Broadcast TV represented 20.1% and cable TV represented 24.1%
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which together equals 44.2% of viewership, which was less than streaming alone
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Now, this shows a major shift in how people prefer to watch content
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moving away from traditional TV and towards streaming platforms. While many have expected this milestone to occur sooner
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sporting events, news, and new season content have kept broadcasting cable surprisingly resilient
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YouTube was the most watched individual streaming service on TV in May making up 12 of all TV viewing Now this shows that a lot of people are using YouTube not just on their phones or computers but as their main way of watching TV Streaming
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services like Pluto, the Roku channel, and Tubi, which let people watch shows and movies without
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paying but with ads, are also becoming more popular. Together, those free streaming services
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made up 5.7 percent of all TV watching. Nielsen's president said between May 2021 and May 2025
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streaming increased by 71 percent, broadcasts dropped by 21 percent, and cable lost 39 percent
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from a usage perspective. Nielsen also anticipates that the trend will continue through the summer
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months. However, they expect viewership to shift back toward a more balanced distribution between
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cable and broadcast television, at least temporarily, once the football season begins
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan. If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com
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