TV streaming apps have totally changed the way we consume our favourite films and TV shows. And now, with more services available than ever before, many households are spending more on TV streaming than traditional broadcast television.
To truly understand the scope of streaming and the impact it has had since its infancy, we’ve collected some key statistics and gathered them below!
UK TV Streaming App Subscription Statistics
- The average UK household spends between £25 to £50 on streaming providers per month.
- Netflix is the UK’s most widely used and recognised service, having peaked at 17.3 million UK users in 2022.
- Just over half of the UK streaming population is male, at 53.3%. 46.7% of viewers instead identify as female.
- The cost of many services has almost doubled in the past decade, as a result of increasing inflation.
The Cost of Popular TV Streaming Services In The UK
| Platform | Basic Package | Standard Package | Premium Package | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | £4.99 | £10.99 | £17.99 | £60 – £216 |
| Prime Video | £5.99 | £8.99 | N/A | £72 – £108 |
| Disney + | £4.99 | £8.99 | £12.99 | £60 – £156 |
| Youtube Premium | N/A | £12.99 | N/A | £156 |
| Paramount Plus | £4.99 | £7.99 | £10.99 | £60 – £132 |
| Now TV | £9.99 (Entertainment) | £120 |
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What Are The Most Popular TV Subscription Services In The UK?
| Platform | UK Subscriptions 2024 | UK Launch Year |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | 17.3 Million | 2012 |
| Prime Video | 13.4 Million | 2014 |
| Disney + | 7.5 Million | 2020 |
| Paramount Plus | 2.8 Million | 2022 |
| Youtube Premium | 2.2 Million | 2018 |
| Now TV | 2.1 Million | 2012 |
Easily the most popular service in the UK is Netflix. Ever since the platform ushered in the UK’s streaming age in 2012, its user base has steadily climbed year on year. The platform reached its UK peak in early 2022 when it achieved 17.3 unique user signups. User counts have since fluctuated slightly, especially in the wake of continued membership price hikes.
The second most popular service in the UK is Amazon Prime Video, which achieved 13 million unique UK users at the end of 2023. Amazon Prime Video, much like Netflix has a vast catalogue of original, exclusive and licensed content for users to browse. Access to Amazon Prime Video is included as part of a general Amazon Prime subscription. So, users can enjoy free next-day delivery and instant streaming. As such, it’s no surprise the platform has quickly risen.
Disney+, which launched in 2019, has seen a significant increase in users, to its current peak of 7.5 million UK users. Despite being one of the youngest platforms in the country, it quickly climbed to the third-place spot in the UK’s streaming rankings! [2]
How Much Has The Cost Of TV Streaming Subscriptions Increased In The Last 10 Years?
The cost of streaming has practically doubled since the industry-leading platforms entered the market. Where many services once represented a cost-effective alternative to standard broadcast television, current prices have rendered many services just as expensive as many traditional TV packages.
Since TV streaming’s early rise from the beginning of the 2010s to now, subscription costs for many top platforms have doubled, and in some cases even tripled. For instance, Netflix, the UK’s leading platform, originally launched with a subscription cost of £5.99 for all content. Now, a standard Netflix membership costs around £10.99 a month.
Netflix has also increased the number of subscription tiers that users can choose from. In order to access a “Premium” membership, which gives access to 4K streaming across more devices, users will need to pay £17.99 a month. This is almost triple the cost of a standard membership during the platform’s early days.
Disney+, similarly, has seen a price increase since it entered the UK market in 2019. When the platform launched, it offered memberships at £5.99, making it a cheaper option than many others. In just a year, however, the price increased to £7.99. Currently, it stands at £8.99 for a standard membership. [3]
Why Does the cost of TV Streaming Subscriptions keep increasing?
TV streaming services, unsurprisingly, are feeling the pressures of inflation. As costs rise across the board, many popular platforms have had to increase their subscription costs to stay afloat. The market is also now packed full of competing streamers, all looking to wow you with impressive content catalogues. As services produce more original content, they’ll need to raise subscription prices to cover any losses!
Platforms like Netflix also adjust their prices based on changes within local markets. That’s why price increases are often inconsistent across the world. [4]
How To Save Money On TV Streaming
One of the best ways to save money on streaming is to opt for an ad-supported membership. Though they were controversial when first introduced, ad-supported membership tiers have helped services and their users to save a lot of money. For instance, Netflix offers ad-supported subscriptions at only £4.99. Half the price of a standard ad-free membership. The inclusion of ads helps the platform to still generate a profit even from cheaper subscriptions.
Ad-supported streaming platforms and subscription tiers have proven popular across the UK. In fact, many UK viewers prefer ad-supported online content. Research found that 68% of viewers in the UK would prefer to stream on a free ad-based platform than to pay for a sull ad-free subscription. [5]
Who Spends The Most On TV Streaming Subscriptions In The UK?
Despite online content being so ubiquitous in youth culture, it’s actually 45 to 55 years that make up the majority of UK streaming viewers. In fact, viewers of this age group represent just under a third of the UK streaming population! A quarter of the UK streaming population is 35 to 44 years old.
Research found that younger people tended to prefer watching series once they are complete, rather than tuning in for each new season as it’s released. Younger viewers are more likely to sign up for a service to access a specific show, and then to cancel the membership as soon as they are done watching it! [2]
References
[1] – https://www.gbnews.com
[2] – https://www.uswitch.com
[3] – https://qz.com
[4] – https://help.netflix.com
[5] – https://www.exchangewire.com
