‘Bridgerton’ and Kids Help Streaming Hit All-Time Usage High in June

‘Bridgerton’ and Kids Help Streaming Hit All-Time Usage High in June

As a dedicated gamer and media consumer, I have witnessed the meteoric rise of streaming platforms over the past few years, but June 2024 marked a new milestone that left me in awe. Streaming services accounted for an unprecedented 40.3% of all TV use in the United States, surpassing cable’s previous record of 40%. The shift was palpable in my daily life as I watched my favorite shows on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, while traditional TV usage took a back seat.


In June, streaming services reached a new achievement, making up over 40% of TV viewing in the US for the first time ever.

I’ve been closely following the trends in media consumption for quite some time now, and I must admit, I’m truly amazed by the latest development in the streaming industry. According to my trusted source, Nielsen’s Gauge rankings, viewers spent an impressive 40.3 percent of their screen time with streamers last month! That’s a new record-breaking milestone, surpassing the previous high of 40 percent set by cable back in Nielsen’s second-ever Gauge three years ago. It’s fascinating to witness this shift in media consumption patterns. Back when I was growing up, we had limited options for entertainment – mostly traditional broadcast TV and the occasional movie night at the theater. But now, it seems like the world is at our fingertips, with an endless supply of content catering to every taste and preference. The future of media is undoubtedly in streaming, and I can’t wait to see what innovations lie ahead!

In contrast, the combined usage of conventional TV platforms – broadcast and cable – reached an all-time low of 47.7% in June. Cable accounted for 27.2% of all TV viewing, while broadcast had a 20.5% share (down from 28.2% and 22.3% respectively the previous month). The remaining 12% was attributed to other forms of TV consumption such as gaming and playing physical media.

The streaming surge was fueled in part by shows like Netflix’s Bridgerton — which at 9.3 billion minutes of viewing time was the biggest streaming title of the month and Your Honor (7.5 billion minutes across Netflix and Paramount+). The Boys (4 billion minutes on Prime Video) and House of the Dragon (3.4 billion minutes on Max) also put up strong numbers.

As a gamer, I can tell you that during summer breaks starting from June 2023, I’ve noticed a significant surge in streaming hours. Kids and teens, including myself, tend to spend more time at home, which results in a 16% increase in TV usage for those under 11, and a substantial uptick in screen time for teenagers compared to May. Most of our viewing hours go towards streaming platforms and gaming.

In the realm of individual streaming services, YouTube secured the top spot and achieved an all-time high of 9.9% in terms of TV usage based on Gauge’s three-year record. Netflix followed closely with a 8.4% share, marking a 0.8 percentage point increase from May. Tubi, Fox’s free ad-supported platform, also set a new record with a 2% slice of the overall TV usage.

Nielsen’s Gauge numbers for June 2024 are below.


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2024-07-16 15:26