The number of
U.S. ad-supported streaming households that report having recently used an ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) or free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) service leapt to 41% in this year’s third
quarter, from 31% in Q1.
That’s according to data from Parks Associates’ Video Service Consumer Insights Dashboard, which also finds 46% …
Claimed "recent" usage of AVODs or FASTs is a very crude indicator of actual share of audience impressions. Since only 35-40% of all viewing is attained by streaming means and since ad-free services like Netflix still grab a major share of that, the AVOD/FAST share of total viewing time must be a fraction of that 35-40%---probably around 15-20%. Of course, such usage is increasing---that's hardly surprising as so many people are cutting the cord mainly to save money. But can AVODs and, in particular, FASTs be profitable ventures? That's the $64 Dollar Question.