Paramount+ Leads in New Subscribers in Stagnant Market

Paramount+ made a big splash in the streaming world by gaining the most new subscribers in the first quarter of the year, despite facing tough competition from other streaming services. Disney+ and NOW saw a decrease in numbers, while Netflix and Prime Video saw only slight increases. Discovery+ struggled during a period where it lost Eurosport.

The latest Barb Establishment Survey painted a challenging picture for premium streaming TV services in the UK. Barb, originally known for measuring ratings, reported that Paramount+ experienced the largest growth in subscribers. The hit show Yellowstone was credited as a key factor in attracting new viewers.

Although the overall number of UK homes with subscription video on-demand services remained relatively stable, the research revealed that those households who did subscribe were more likely to have more than one service. This trend of multiple subscriptions was a driving force behind the growth in the market.

Doug Whelpdale, Head of Insight at Barb, highlighted the key findings, stating that there were over 20 million UK homes accessing at least one SVoD service in Q1 2025. Additionally, the number of homes with two or more services grew for the first time since Q2 2024. Paramount+ saw a significant increase in subscribers, adding 430,000 homes in the quarter.

In terms of winners and losers, Discovery+ remained flat due to changes in its offerings, leading to an upcoming replacement by HBO Max in April 2026. Netflix and Prime Video saw modest gains compared to the previous quarter, bringing them back to similar levels from the previous summer.

Overall, the data from the Barb Establishment Survey for Q1 2025 showed a divide between streaming services with some gaining momentum and others facing challenges. Around one-third of UK homes still do not have a SVoD subscription, indicating that there is still room for growth in the market.