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Survey: 76% of U.S. Adults Still Use Broadcast TV; Ad-Supported Streaming Gaining on Cable

Survey: 76% of U.S. Adults Still Use Broadcast TV; Ad-Supported Streaming Gaining on Cable

Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.

Linear TV deserves a moment in the sun. Despite the increasingly rapid decline of pay TV, people are still enjoying the traditional TV experience in the United States, according to a new survey commissioned by television broadcasting company TVB.

That survey found that 77% of U.S. adults reported watching TV via broadcast channels or cable. The survey breaks those sources down individually as well, demonstrating that 76% of adults watched broadcast TV channels in the 24-hour period before being surveyed, versus 54% who watched cable TV. Streaming video with ads was the seventh-most used form of media, with 48% of respondents admitting to using it on the last day, according to the data. TVB did not include ad-free streaming in this study, as it was focusing specifically on how advertising impacts viewing.

In terms of time spent watching TV, the broadcast was the leader once again. TVB’s report shows that people spent an average of three hours and 37 minutes watching broadcast TV. Cable TV saw just over half that amount of time, with one hour and 54 minutes on average. Streaming with ads was close behind cable at one hour and 25 minutes per day.

The numbers show that while broadcast TV is holding strong, troubling signs for pay TV continue to mount. Despite offering dozens more channels than broadcast TV does, cable and satellite companies are competing more directly with streaming services than they are with other linear TV sources. Ad-supported streaming is increasingly successful, and its no wonder, considering over 60% of U.S. households watch at least one free ad-supported TV (FAST) channel via streaming.

Ad-supported streaming may be spreading, but it still has some work to do in terms of convincing users to buy new products. According to the survey, television was still the most effective medium in influencing purchasing decisions by a fair amount. Just 5.1% of respondents said they were most influenced by an advertisement they saw while streaming a video.

Part of the reason for this dramatically higher influence of TV ads is the frequency of those ads. Ad-supported streamers typically feature low ad loads in an attempt to differentiate themselves from traditional TV. Streaming services usually offer 4-5 minutes of ads per viewing hour, as compared to double that amount or more on TV. Given that heavier ad load — and the likelihood that linear TV viewers will see the same ad more than once — it’s hardly surprising that traditional TV is a more effective advertising tool for the present.

Expect streaming services to continue stepping up when it comes to being more effective advertisers. Disney+ recently told advertisers that it was bringing on the suite of tools that the company already uses to target ads on Hulu. Netflix recently doubled the number of subscribers signing up for its new ad-supported plan, suggesting that next year’s survey may show ad-supported streaming gaining on cable even faster in terms of time spent watching and effectiveness of ads.

  • Disney+

    Disney+ is a video streaming service with over 13,000 series and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, The Muppets, and more. It is available in 61 countries and 21 languages. It is notable for its popular original series like “The Mandalorian,” “Ms. Marvel,” “Loki,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and “Andor.”

    …

    Disney+ has several plans with or without ads. Disney+ Basic with Ads costs $11.99 / month. If you don’t want ads, you can choose Disney+ Premium with No Ads, which costs $19.99 / month.

    The Premium plan also offers an annual option for $189.99 / year ($15.83/mo.).

    If you’d like to add Hulu, you can bundle the two services as well, but Disney+ is also continuing to integrate the two, which will soon be an all-in-one offering.

    Sports fans can also bundle ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited, with or without ads.

    Disney+ most recently raised prices on September 23, 2026 — the fourth time in as many years.

    The app supports unlimited downloads (on their Premium Plans), four simultaneous streamers, up to 7 profiles, 4K streaming, and includes hundreds of avatars.

    The service includes 25+ original series, 10+ original movies, 7,500 past episodes, 100 recent movies, and 400 library titles, including the entire Disney Vault.

    You can see the full list of available Disney, Disney Channel, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, Nat Geo shows and movies, or all available Disney+ content by checking out our Disney+ streaming movie listings.

    Sign Up

    Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $16.99 a month ($14 savings).

  • Netflix

    Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”

    …

    The platform constantly updates its catalog, introducing fresh content alongside timeless classics and international hits. Netflix’s commitment to storytelling has also earned critical acclaim, with award-winning exclusives such as “Roma,” “Marriage Story,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Mank,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In 2023, their animated film “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, further solidifying Netflix’s reputation for high-quality content.

    Recently, Netflix has expanded beyond standard movies and TV titles with the addition of video podcasts, and is also exploring a digital store that would offer third-party streamers within the app.

    Netflix offers three plans – stream on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard with Ads” ($8.99) plan, on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard” ($19.99) plan, and 4 devices in up to 4K on the “Premium” ($26.99) plan.


David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.

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