Streaming TV Surpasses Broadcast TV in Viewership

In a recent report, Nielsen revealed that more Americans tuned in to television via streaming services in May than through traditional broadcast or cable TV—an industry milestone! Streaming accounted for 44.8% of TV viewing, outpacing the combined 44.2% share held by broadcast and cable.

However, don’t count traditional TV out just yet! According to Tom Bettag, a lecturer at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism, the upcoming football season and World Series may see a shift back to traditional TV. But the data clearly points to streaming as the future of television, with Bettag predicting a temporary setback followed by a resurgence in streaming dominance.

When it comes to streaming platforms, there isn’t a single giant pulling all the strings. YouTube TV led the pack with 12% viewership, followed by Netflix at just over 7%. Bettag surmises that this diversity may not be sustainable in the long run, especially with the hefty costs of producing top-tier content.

As for viewer demographics, older audiences are hopping on the streaming train, binge-watching shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus alongside younger viewers. However, Bettag notes that older viewers still turn to cable and broadcast TV for local news, weather, and sports, citing a sense of trust in their local anchors that isn’t replicated in the streaming world.

The future of streaming news presents its own challenges, particularly in monetization. Bettag remains skeptical about the profitability of localized streaming news services, highlighting a potential hurdle in the transition from traditional to streaming platforms.

Overall, the landscape of television is evolving, with streaming services gaining momentum while traditional TV fights to retain its audience. As viewers continue to embrace new ways of consuming content, only time will tell which players in the industry will emerge as the ultimate victors.