44.8%
of total TV use
Streaming accounted for 44.8% of total U.S. television use in May 2025, exceeding broadcast and cable combined for the first time.
Source: Nielsen, The Gauge, June 2025 ↗INDUSTRY REFERENCE
U.S. streaming TV statistics.
A practical, source-backed view of how Americans are spending time with television. Updated September 15, 2026.
View the statistics
WHAT THIS PAGE COVERS
Six measures worth keeping in view.
These figures describe U.S. television use, streaming platform concentration, and the growth of free ad-supported services. Each statistic links directly to the report that published it, so viewers, media customers, and partners can check the original context.
KEY STATISTICS
The numbers
12.5%
of total TV use
YouTube represented 12.5% of all U.S. television viewing in May 2025, the highest share for any streamer at that point.
Source: Nielsen, The Gauge, June 2025 ↗5.7%
of total TV use
Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi combined for 5.7% of total U.S. television viewing in May 2025.
Source: Nielsen, The Gauge, June 2025 ↗47.5%
of total TV use
Streaming captured 47.5% of U.S. television viewing in December 2025, the largest share Nielsen had reported in The Gauge.
Source: Nielsen, The Gauge, January 2026 ↗55.1B
streaming minutes
Americans streamed 55.1 billion minutes on Christmas Day 2025, the largest single day of streaming reported by Nielsen at that time.
Source: Nielsen, The Gauge, January 2026 ↗8.8%
of total TV use
Netflix reached 8.8% of U.S. television use in July 2025, its platform high at that point.
Source: Nielsen, The Gauge, August 2025 ↗WHAT THE FIGURES SHOW
Television is increasingly a connected-screen experience.
Streaming became the largest portion of U.S. television use in May 2025, then reached another record share in December. That shift matters because viewing decisions now happen across connected devices, apps, platforms, and services rather than through one fixed route.
Individual platforms command meaningful portions of total TV use. YouTube accounted for 12.5% of U.S. television viewing in May 2025, while Netflix reached 8.8% in July. Viewer attention can become highly concentrated around a few services.
Free ad-supported streaming is a meaningful part of that picture. Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi together accounted for 5.7% of U.S. television viewing in May 2025, showing why media customers need to consider more than subscription services alone.
SOURCES & METHOD
Clear source dates. No invented figures.
This page uses publicly available Nielsen reporting published from June 2025 through January 2026. The statistic cards retain the reporting period stated by their original source. Percentages and viewing minutes are presented exactly as published.
- The Gauge: May 2025 viewing share, published June 2025 ↗
- The Gauge: July 2025 viewing share, published August 2025 ↗
- The Gauge: December 2025 viewing share, published January 2026 ↗
Cite this page
Know More TV. “U.S. Streaming TV Statistics: 2025-2026.” Updated September 15, 2026. https://knowmoretv.org/streaming-statistics
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