Horowitz: Streaming Is the New Normal

Young, multicultural viewers are rewriting the rules on how television is consumed, with more content being streamed on digital platforms, according to new findings from Horowitz Research.

Seven out of 10 TV content viewers stream at least some of their content through digital subscription video-on-demand services, according to the Horowitz Research State of Pay TV, OTT and SVOD 2017 report. Further, TV viewers stream content four out of 10 hours of viewing, compared to less than two in 10 hours five years ago, Horowitz said.

Among millennials, 60% of all viewing over a 10-hour period is spent streaming content, according to the report. “Streaming is the new normal,” Adriana Waterston, senior VP of insights and strategy for Horowitz Research, said.

According to Horowitz, 57% of content viewers subscribe to both a subscription service from a traditional multichannel video programming distributor and at least one SVOD service — up from 41% in 2014.

“Cord-cutting is not the issue,” Waterston said. “The real issue is that Netflix, Hulu and the rest of the streaming platforms opened up a Pandora’s box allowing people who love content to enjoy the widest and best variety of entertainment in a better, more seamless, user-friendly personalized way.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.