More consumers of leading streaming services now opt for basic tiers with ads over more costly, ad-free premium tiers

Parks Associates will share this and additional consumer research at its upcoming Future of Video: Business of Streaming conference, November 19-21 at the Marina del Rey Marriott, Marina del Rey, California.

Now in its seventh year, the conference addresses new strategies for streaming, internet, and mobile providers to deliver high-quality video services that will retain current and attract new video subscribers.

New consumer study reveals ad-based tier subscribers account for 57% of the user bases among the eight leading streaming services

Parks Associates’ research finds consumers are increasingly adopting ad-based video streaming service packages in order to save money on subscription fees.

This recent Quantified Consumer study, Ad-Based Streaming: Consumer Demand & Engagement, a study of 8,000 US internet households, examines why ad-based services are experiencing a surge in adoption, which services are the most popular, and household sentiment towards the ad-based experience. The research reveals that on average, ad-based tier subscribers account for 57% of the user bases among the eight leading streaming services MAX, Netflix, Disney+, Discovery+, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Hulu, and Peacock, according to Parks Associates’ consumer survey work.

“Many video streaming services, needing to boost profits, continue to raise prices and have rolled out ad-supported plans to give subscribers options,” said Sarah Lee, Research Analyst, Parks Associates. “In many cases, these ad-based tiers are more profitable for businesses, adding urgency to the need to improve the ad experience for their subscribers.”

The motivating factors for AVOD (ad-based video on demand) subscriptions go beyond just saving money. Roughly one-fourth of current AVOD subscribers have adopted this tier to save money, while a similar share was attracted by a bundle or promotion. Additionally, many subscribers see the low-priced ad tiers as a low-risk way to try a new service or re-subscribe to a service they churned away from.

Parks Associates’ research also reveals the end-user experience needs improvement. Users commonly report the same ads repeat too many times, ad breaks are too frequent and long, and the content stops but no ads are shown.

“As services continue to raise prices and viewers shift to ad-supported tiers out of necessity, it is critical that services improve the ad-based experience or risk losing subscribers,” Lee said, “and the ad revenue that comes with it.”

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates, a woman-founded and certified business, is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates provides business intelligence and research services through its proprietary methodologies developed over decades, including quarterly surveys of 10,000 internet households.

The company's expertise crosses any industries: home security and smart home, streaming video, broadband and pay-TV services, digital media and platforms, gaming, Wi-Fi and home networks, connected health, support, consumer electronics, home control systems, energy management, and tech solutions for the multi-dwelling (MDU), small-to-medium business (SMB), and commercial building markets.

?Each year, Parks Associates brings thousands of leaders together for its webinars and annual events. The firm hosts the annual executive research and strategy conferences CONNECTIONS?, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. https://www.parksassociates.com

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