• by Wayne Friedman , March 19, 2024

Driven by rising YouTube and FAST channel viewing, overall February streaming viewing increased 10% year-over-year to a 37.7% share for total day viewing among persons age two and up, as measured by Nielsen.

A year ago, in February 2023, premium streaming viewing represented a 34.3% share, compared to 36.0% in January.

YouTube rose to its best share ever at 9.3% last month -- up 0.7% from 8.6% in January -- leading all premium streamers.

Netflix was in second place, slipping to a 7.5% share from 7.8%.

Major FAST (Free Advertising Supported Television) platforms also climbed versus the previous month, according to Nielsen -- with Pluto TV up 10% to a 0.8% share, Tubi 8.3% higher to a 1.7% share and Roku Channel up 8.1% to 1.2% share.

But the biggest gainer in the month was streamer Paramount+ -- up 24% due to live streaming of its sister network/platform CBS’s “Super Bowl.” The streamer had a 1.1% share in February -- up from a 0.9% in January.

Overall TV usage (streaming, linear TV, and other) fell during the month -- 6.4% from January -- due to broadcast and cable viewing declines at 10% (to a 24.2% share)  and 1% (to a 27.6% share), respectively.

Nielsen says cable landed at its smallest share to date, partly because sports viewing was down by about one-third from the month before.

The measurement company's “other” category -- tuning sources not measured by broadcast, cable or streaming -- also slipped, down 4% to a 11.3% share.