Roku Channel expands lead over other free streamers
Roku Channel expands lead over other free streamers
In January 2025, both Roku and Netflix had platform-best viewership numbers according to Nielsen.
For years, Roku has been the dominant name in terms of streaming hardware in North America, serving as the operating system for more smart TVs and connected devices than any other brand. However, that is not where the company’s ambitions, or growing dominance, ends. According to Nielsen, in January, the Roku Channel increased its lead over other free services during a record-breaking month for streaming.
Key Details:
- Roku set its fourth-straight monthly viewership high in January 2025.
- The Roku Channel extended its lead as the most-viewed free streaming service.
- Netflix set its own platform-best mark with 8.6% of all TV-viewing time.
Last week, Roku reported that it had nearly 90 million streaming households at the end of 2024 and that its free streaming platform the Roku Channel had eclipsed 34 billion streaming hours during the final three months of the year. Nielsen’s latest Gauge report bears that out, noting that the Roku Channel accounted for 2.1% of all TV-watching time during January 2025. This was the fourth straight month that the Roku Channel set a new platform-best mark, and January saw a 9% viewership jump for the streamer.
In the first month of 2025, Roku’s chief rival, the Fox-owned Tubi maintained its 1.7% of viewing time, but fell 0.4% behind thanks to Roku’s improvement. The Paramount-owned Pluto TV remained in third place amongst free streamers at 0.9%. The Roku Channel’s improvement is especially impressive considering that streaming as a whole declined 0.7% from its record high in December 2024. Additionally, Roku’s reign at the top of this particular competition might also be headed for a bump in the road as Tubi broadcast Super Bowl LIX for free earlier this month.
Check out the full Gauge breakdown for January 2025:
Click to enlarge image
Other interesting streaming news to come out of Nielsen’s report was that Netflix set a new platform record by reaching 8.6% of TV-watching time. That was a 7% increase over its already impressive December total (8.5%). The last month of 2024 was aided by the world’s largest streamer hosting its first two NFL game in history, helping streaming have its biggest day ever. Netflix’s January success was built on the release of “Squid Game” Season 2, which collected 9 billion viewing hours during the month.
Prime Video also found success in the month, hitting 47 billion daily minutes streamed on the strength of its streaming-exclusive NFL Wild Card game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. While broadcast TV was aided by NFL and college football postseason action, it was still very successful month for streamers.
“Sstreaming viewership in January was up 3% versus December and the category accounted for the largest share of television with 42.6%,” according to Nielsen. “On a year-over-year basis, streaming usage grew 21% compared with January 2024, and the category has gained 6.6% share of TV viewing.”
The monthly Gauge reports highlight the fact that streaming comes in all shapes and sizes, and there is something for every cord-cutter to choose from. From the platforms that have practically become indispensable utilities in our lives to the up-and-coming disrupters, there is something to meet everyone’s tastes and budgets.
Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers a broad mix of movies, TV shows, live linear channels, and original programming. Available to all viewers — not just Roku device owners — the service features licensed content from major studios alongside Roku Originals, which include exclusive series, movies, and specials previously produced for Quibi, as well as new original projects developed specifically for the platform.