TV Viewers See Value In Free, Ad-Supported Streaming

Many U.S. consumers in the past few years have seen their spending power eroded as their incomes couldn’t keep up with rising prices for food, gasoline and housing. These pressures are reflected in their capacity to spend on video services, whether it’s cable television or streaming.

Households this year are spending an average of $82 a month on TV subscriptions, down from $85 a month in 2023, according to Hub Entertainment Research.

As viewers confront their spending limits, they see greater value in lower-cost services. Those video alternatives include free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services such as Tubi, Pluto TV or Roku Channel. About a third (34%) of survey respondents rated FAST services as providing excellent value, according to Hub.