Ofcom finds British adults watch an average of 34 minutes of YouTube and 18 minutes of Netflix a day.
A new report by Ofcom has found that YouTube and Netflix are now the UK’s third and fourth most popular channels.
The findings of the Media Nations 2019 report are further evidence of the changing media landscape in the UK, with British adults now watching an average of 34 minutes of YouTube and 18 minutes of Netflix a day.
The figures are beaten only by BBC One (48 minutes) and ITV (37 minutes).
In addition, a study of young adults aged from 18 to 34 placed the video streaming services as the most watched viewing platforms, with one hour and four minutes for YouTube and 40 minutes for Netflix.
US sitcom Friends remains the most popular show on Netflix.
The report also found that nearly half of homes now subscribe to TV streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or NOW TV. Average daily viewing rose by seven minutes last year to 26 minutes.
The total number of UK subscriptions rose from 15.6 million to 19.1 million in 2018.
The report noted: “The pace of change in television raises questions about how UK viewers will be served in the future. Online content delivery and the emergence of global video providers, notably Netflix and YouTube, are driving fundamental shifts in viewing habits and industry structures.
“The internet is massively increasing the choice available to UK viewers.”
“Change is not new to the television sector. However, the rate at which young audiences in particular are embracing new online video services from global internet platforms in place of linear services from incumbent UK-based broadcasters, including the BBC and ITV, suggests that these changes may have a more profound long-term impact on viewing habits.”
Traditional broadcasters still account for the majority of viewing, with people watching on average three hours and 12 minutes of broadcast TV in 2019. However, this is 49 minutes less than in 2012.
Four in ten viewers say that online video services are their main way of watching TV and film.
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