Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

UK becomes a nation of streamers... but traditional broadcast TV leads the way on UK content

07/08/2019

UK becomes a nation of streamers... but traditional broadcast TV leads the way on UK content Add to Your Pages

07 August 2019

Half of homes now take Netflix, Amazon, Now TV or Disney Life

Streaming subscriptions leap by a quarter, as traditional TV declines

But traditional broadcasters show more than 100 times more original, UK-made shows than overseas streaming giants

Around half of all UK homes now subscribe to TV streaming services, according to a major Ofcom report revealing rapid shifts in the nation's viewing habits.

The number of UK households signed up to the most popular streaming platforms Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV and Disney Life increased from 11.2m (39%) in 2018 to 13.3m (47%) in 2019.

With many homes using more than one service, the total number of UK streaming subscriptions rose by a quarter in 2018 from 15.6m to 19.1m.[1]

And while traditional TV viewing continued to decline in 2018, the UK's public service broadcasters BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and S4C showed more than 100 times more original, homegrown shows than the overseas streaming platforms.

The findings are from Ofcom's Media Nations report, a comprehensive study of major trends in UK television, radio and audio, published today.

Traditional channels still form 70% of TV timeTraditional TV viewing[2] is falling at a slightly accelerating rate, driven by the changing habits and preferences of UK viewers.

While traditional viewing still accounts for most TV time (69% or 3 hours 12 minutes, on average, per day), this fell by nine minutes in 2017, and by 11 minutes last year.

Viewers now watch 50 minutes less traditional TV each day than in 2010. The shift is most pronounced among younger people (16-24s), whose viewing of traditional TV has halved in that time.

-- The equivalent of 34 extra series of the BBC's Bodyguard would need to have been broadcast and watched in 2018 to cancel out the decline in traditional TV viewing.[3]

Young now spend hour on YouTube each dayIn contrast, average daily viewing to streaming services rose by seven minutes last year, to 26 minutes; while viewing to YouTube rose by six minutes, to 34 minutes. For the first time, young people now spend more than an hour on YouTube every day (64 minutes, up from 59 minutes).

Two in five UK adults (2019 42%, 2018 37%) now consider online video services to be their main way of watching TV and film. Such is the attraction to online viewing, a similar proportion of people who use subscription streaming services (2019 38%, 2018 35%) could envisage not watching traditional broadcast television at all in five years' time.

Best of BritishDespite the overall decline in traditional broadcast TV viewing, the five main public service broadcasters' (PSB) channels[4] held their share of viewing at 52% in 2018 compared to 51% in 2017. And three-quarters of viewers to the PSBs' main and portfolio

channels (74%) claim to be either very or fairly satisfied.

The PSBs are also critical in meeting viewers' appetite for original programmes, made and produced in the UK, that reflect their lives.[5] They delivered more than 32,000 hours of original, homegrown productions across their channels in 2018.

That is around 125 times more than was shown on paid streaming services (221 hours). The vast majority of programmes available on streaming platforms are US-made productions, created to play out in multiple countries.

While PSBs' spending on first-run, UK made programmes was 5% lower in 2018 than in 2016 [6], they have found new ways of financing content which has offset this decrease. Third-party funding for programmes, including co-productions, has more than doubled over 10 years to £455m in 2018.

Small Screen: Big DebateToday's findings underpin Ofcom's recently-launched national debate on the future of public service broadcasting Small Screen:

Big Debate.

This broad debate will involve broadcasters, production companies, governments, Parliaments, industry bodies, viewers' groups and national and regional representatives in the wider questions around the future of public service media. Ofcom is playing a central role in driving this debate, drawing on a range of views, evidence and research.

By the end of the year, we will publish our assessment of the state of public service broadcasting, identifying areas of risk and potential opportunities.

Yih-Choung Teh, Strategy and Research Group Director at Ofcom, said: The way we watch TV is changing faster than ever before. In the space of seven years, streaming services have grown from nothing to reach nearly half of British homes.

But traditional broadcasters still have a vital role to play, producing the kind of brilliant UK programmes that overseas tech giants struggle to match. We want to sustain that content for future generations, so we're leading a nationwide debate on the future of public service broadcasting.

NOTES TO EDITORS

In Q1 2019, Netflix had 11.5 million UK subscriptions (up 26% since Q1 2018), Amazon Prime Video had 6.0 million subscriptions (up 23% since Q1 2018) and Now TV had 1.6 million subscriptions (up by 11% since Q1 2018). This means there are now around five million more UK subscriptions to streaming services than to traditional pay TV (Sky, Virgin Media, BT and TalkTalk), which accounts for 14.3 million subscriptions.

Traditional TV means watching broadcast channels on a TV set, including catch-up viewing within 28 days.

Total number of minutes spent watching traditional broadcast TV across whole UK (viewers 4+): 4518 billion mins in 2017; 4337 billion mins in 2018 a fall of 181 billion mins. Total time spent watching Bodyguard in 2018 was 5.3 billion mins. 181 billion 5.3 billion = 34.

BBC One, BBC Two, ITV/STV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Showing new programmes made in
LINK: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__search/s/redirect?collection=web&url=https:...
See more stories from ofcom

More from OFCOM

31/03/2021

Melissa Tatton appointed to lead Corporate Group

Melissa Tatton appointed to lead Corporate Group Add to Your Pages 30 March 2021 Melissa Tatton joined Ofcom last September as Interim Corporate Group D...

24/03/2021

One in three video-sharing users find hate speech

One in three video-sharing users find hate speech Add to Your Pages 24 March 2021 Ofcom sets out guidance to help services protect against harmful onlin...

19/03/2021

Ofcom spectrum auction: principal stage results

Ofcom spectrum auction: principal stage results Add to Your Pages 17 March 2021 Principal bidding stage for spectrum auction has ended The UK's fou...

19/03/2021

Ramping up the rollout of full-fibre broadband

Ramping up the rollout of full-fibre broadband Add to Your Pages 18 March 2021 Ofcom creates conditions for networks to ramp up the rollout of full-fibr...

14/03/2021

Ofcom appoints new Chair and new member to its Advisory Committee for Scotland

Ofcom appoints new Chair and new member to its Advisory Committee for Scotland Add to Your Pages 12 March 2021 Ofcom has today announced the appointment...

11/03/2021

A joined-up approach to digital regulation

A joined-up approach to digital regulation Add to Your Pages 10 March 2021 Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum publishes its first annual plan of work ...

12/02/2021

Ofcom fines O2 10.5m for overcharging customers

Ofcom fines O2 £10.5m for overcharging customers Add to Your Pages 12 February 2021 O2 broke Ofcom's rules by failing to provide customers with accu...

04/02/2021

Ofcom revokes CGTN's licence to broadcast in the UK

Ofcom revokes CGTNs licence to broadcast in the UK Add to Your Pages 04 February 2021 London, 10:15 GMT, 4 February 2021: Ofcom has today withdrawn the ...

03/02/2021

New plans for seamless broadband switching

New plans for seamless broadband switching Add to Your Pages 03 February 2021 Proposals for a new one touch' process to cut out the hassle of broad...

17/12/2020

Gigabit broadband reaches four in ten Scottish homes

Gigabit broadband reaches four in ten Scottish homes Add to Your Pages 17 December 2020 New Ofcom figures reveal broadband and mobile coverage across Sc...

17/12/2020

Gigabit broadband reaches one in four homes

Gigabit broadband reaches one in four homes Add to Your Pages 17 December 2020 New figures reveal broadband and mobile coverage across the UK 8m homes ...

15/12/2020

Maggie Carver appointed Ofcom interim Chair from January

Maggie Carver appointed Ofcom interim Chair from January Add to Your Pages 15 December 2020 The Government has appointed Maggie Carver as Ofcom's in...

12/12/2020

BT fined for breaking Ofcom rules in Northern Ireland tender

BT fined for breaking Ofcom rules in Northern Ireland tender Add to Your Pages 11 December 2020 BT failed to meet regulatory obligations during procurem...

09/12/2020

Traditional UK broadcasting at risk without radical shakeup, Ofcom warns

Traditional UK broadcasting at risk without radical shakeup, Ofcom warns Add to Your Pages 08 December 2020 New laws and rules needed for public service...

26/11/2020

Delivering postal users' needs in a digital age

Delivering postal users' needs in a digital age Add to Your Pages 26 November 2020 Royal Mail needs to become more efficient and modernise its parce...

25/11/2020

Broadcasters must look beyond London and reach the whole UK

Broadcasters must look beyond London and reach the whole UK Add to Your Pages 25 November 2020 Ofcom calls on industry to reflect wider range of geograp...

25/11/2020

Ofcom appoints six new Content Board members

Ofcom appoints six new Content Board members Add to Your Pages 24 November 2020 Ofcom has appointed six new members to its Content Board. Ofcoms Conte...

07/11/2020

Vulnerable customers must be treated fairly

Vulnerable customers must be treated fairly Add to Your Pages 23 July 2020 Ofcom sets out how phone, broadband and pay-TV companies should treat those w...

28/10/2020

Mobile firms to be banned from selling locked' handsets

Mobile firms to be banned from selling locked' handsets Add to Your Pages 27 October 2020 New rules to help customers put off from switching becaus...

16/10/2020

Reappointment of Mairi Kidd to MG ALBA board

Reappointment of Mairi Kidd to MG ALBA board Add to Your Pages 30 April 2020 Ofcom has today announced the reappointment of Mairi Kidd to the board of M...

16/10/2020

Ofcom awards six new community radio licences (May 2020)

Ofcom awards six new community radio licences (May 2020) Add to Your Pages 12 May 2020 Ofcom has today announced the award of six new community radio li...

16/10/2020

Broadband networks stand firm during pandemic

Broadband networks stand firm during pandemic Add to Your Pages 13 May 2020 Ofcom analysis shows UK broadband speeds have withstood a surge in demand du...

16/10/2020

Jonathan Oxley to step down

Jonathan Oxley to step down Add to Your Pages 13 May 2020 Ofcom has today announced that Jonathan Oxley, Group Director for Competition and Board member...

16/10/2020

Ofcom appoints Alison Marsden as Director of Content Standards, Licensing and Enforcement

Ofcom appoints Alison Marsden as Director of Content Standards, Licensing and En...

16/10/2020

New Board appointment for Channel 4

New Board appointment for Channel 4 Add to Your Pages 29 May 2020 Ofcom has today announced the appointment of a new non-executive director to the Board...

16/10/2020

Ofcom's General Counsel Polly Weitzman to move on

Ofcoms General Counsel Polly Weitzman to move on Add to Your Pages 01 June 2020 Ofcom has today announced that Polly Weitzman, Ofcom's General Couns...

16/10/2020

UK's internet use surges to record levels

UK's internet use surges to record levels Add to Your Pages 24 June 2020 Adults spending record 4 hours a day online on average, as coronavirus chan...

16/10/2020

Royal Mail fined 1.5m for missing 2018/19 delivery target

Royal Mail fined £1.5m for missing 2018/19 delivery target Add to Your Pages 10 July 2020 91.5% of first-class post was delivered next working day in 20...

16/10/2020

Ofcom awards three new community radio licences in Northampton

Ofcom awards three new community radio licences in Northampton Add to Your Pages 22 July 2020 Ofcom has today announced the award of three new community...

16/10/2020

Broadband customers to save millions following Ofcom review

Broadband customers to save millions following Ofcom review Add to Your Pages 28 July 2020 Out-of-contract customers could save over £270m a year in tot...

16/10/2020

Ofcom confirms plans for spectrum auction early next year

Ofcom confirms plans for spectrum auction early next year Add to Your Pages 03 August 2020 January auction for important airwaves to boost mobile capaci...

16/10/2020

UK talks for longer during lockdown

UK talks for longer during lockdown Add to Your Pages 08 October 2020 Callers spent around 50% longer on their mobiles during early stages of the corona...

08/04/2020

Ofcom sets out licensing plans for small-scale DAB

Ofcom sets out licensing plans for small-scale DAB Add to Your Pages 07 April 2020 Local radio listeners will be able to tune into new digital stations ...

03/04/2020

Changing attitudes of viewers and listeners revealed

Changing attitudes of viewers and listeners revealed Add to Your Pages 03 April 2020 TV and radio programmes that are unsuitable for children, or which ...

25/03/2020

Helping broadband and mobile users stay connected

Helping broadband and mobile users stay connected Add to Your Pages 25 March 2020 As families work and learn at home, Ofcom launches practical tips to g...

25/03/2020

Ofcom awards six new community radio licences (March 2020)

Ofcom awards six new community radio licences (March 2020) Add to Your Pages 25 March 2020 Ofcom has today announced the award of six new community radi...

13/03/2020

Ofcom finalises rules for mobile airwaves auction

Ofcom finalises rules for mobile airwaves auction Add to Your Pages 13 March 2020 New airwaves will boost mobile capacity and enhance 5G services Airwa...

10/03/2020

Ofcom welcomes shared rural network' agreement to improve mobile coverage

Ofcom welcomes shared rural network' agreement to improve mobile coverage Add to Your Pages 09 March 2020 The Government has announced it has reach...

03/03/2020

Ofcom awards four new community radio licences (February 2020)

Ofcom awards four new community radio licences (February 2020) Add to Your Pages 03 March 2020 Ofcom has today announced the award of three new communit...

15/02/2020

Companies must tell customers about their best deals

Companies must tell customers about their best deals Add to Your Pages 14 February 2020 Providers must now tell you when your contract's up, and wha...

12/02/2020

Ofcom Board appoints Dame Melanie Dawes as Chief Executive

Ofcom Board appoints Dame Melanie Dawes as Chief Executive Add to Your Pages 12 February 2020 The Ofcom Board has today announced the appointment of Dam...

12/02/2020

Ofcom response to Government announcement on online harms regulation

Ofcom response to Government announcement on online harms regulation Add to Your Pages 12 February 2020 Jonathan Oxley, interim Chief Executive: We sha...

04/02/2020

Parents' rising concern over children online (Wales)

Parents rising concern over children online (Wales) Add to Your Pages 04 February 2020 Gaming and self-harm among biggest concerns Half of older childr...

04/02/2020

Parents' rising concern over children online

Parents' rising concern over children online Add to Your Pages 04 February 2020 Gaming and self-harm among biggest concerns Half of older children ...

30/01/2020

Ofcom awards four new community radio licences (January 2020)

Ofcom awards four new community radio licences (January 2020) Add to Your Pages 30 January 2020 Ofcom has today announced the award of four new communit...

21/01/2020

Ofcom response to the CMA's super-complaint update

Ofcom response to the CMA's super-complaint update Add to Your Pages 21 January 2020 Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom's Consumer Group Director, said: We...

09/01/2020

Helping customers get fair treatment and fair prices

Helping customers get fair treatment and fair prices Add to Your Pages 09 January 2020 New scorecards help customers compare phone and broadband firms ...

08/01/2020

Supercharging investment in fibre broadband

Supercharging investment in fibre broadband Add to Your Pages 08 January 2020 Ofcom sets out conditions to help bring full fibre nationwide Improving t...

20/12/2019

Latest Scottish broadband and mobile coverage revealed

Latest Scottish broadband and mobile coverage revealed Add to Your Pages 20 December 2019 Number of homes with access to superfast broadband increased b...

20/12/2019

Latest UK broadband and mobile coverage revealed

Latest UK broadband and mobile coverage revealed Add to Your Pages 20 December 2019 Full-fibre broadband now available to around three million homes So...