Streaming Viewership Reached a Record High in May 2024

Watching more streaming TV than ever? You’re not alone, according to a new report. While most TV content these days is available across a number of channels — such as the series finale of “Young Sheldon,” which scored a huge 6 billion viewing minutes across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms — it looks like streaming is leading the pack in total viewing time. A new report from Nielsen found that streaming captured 38.8% of total TV usage, breaking its own record share. 

Diving further into the Nielsen May viewership breakdown: free, ad-supported streaming services (FAST) like Tubi and The Roku Channel are growing wildly, with a combined audience share jumping 43% and 36% year-over-year. And while cable may have had the NBA playoffs as a boost, overall viewership dipped slightly. Broadcast TV, on the other hand, saw a small rise — possibly fueled by recent season finales. The bottom line? Viewers have more choices than ever, and streaming is the clear leader in the pack.

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