Broadcast TV Usage Drops Below 20% for the First Time

Broadcast TV viewing took a hit in June, dropping below 20 percent for the first time ever. While this dip is normal during the summer when the traditional TV season ends, it’s more pronounced this year. According to Nielsen data from their monthly Gauge rankings, broadcast TV only accounted for 18.5 percent of viewing in June, down from 20.1 percent in May.

In contrast, TV use across all platforms actually saw a 3 percent increase in June compared to the previous month. This growth was mainly driven by kids and teenagers, who spent 27 percent more time in front of TV screens with two-thirds of their viewing coming from streaming services. Streaming continues to be a popular choice for viewers, making up 46 percent of all TV use in June.

Netflix had a particularly strong month, with a 13.5 percent increase in viewing. Hits like “Ginny & Georgia,” which was the most streamed series in June with 9.9 billion minutes of viewing, as well as new shows like “Blindspot” and “Animal Kingdom,” contributed to this growth. Even the final season of “Squid Game” helped boost Netflix’s numbers.

Overall, streaming once again outperformed traditional broadcast and cable TV for the second month in a row. With the rise of streaming services and changing viewing habits, it’s clear that the way we watch TV is evolving.