In May 2025, streaming surpassed the combined share of broadcast and cable TV viewing. By July, the Pew Research Center reported that over 80% of U.S. adults use streaming services, while cable TV and satellite TV subscriptions are down.

So, where does that leave viewers in 2025? Streaming is ascendant, but choice comes with trade-offs–price tiers, bundling, sharing rules, and whether your internet provider can handle the bandwidth streaming requires.

Stream Smarter With the Right Internet Plan

Get Faster Internet

The State of Streaming Key Takeaways

• Streaming now leads U.S. TV. It surpassed broadcast & cable in May 2025; YouTube is the single biggest channel, and FAST (free, ad-supported) is a meaningful slice.
• Households mix tiers to save. Ad-supported plans are mainstream; keep ad-free only for your “must-watch” app and run ads on secondary services.
• Rotate platforms to save. Keep one anchor app and rotate 1–2 others monthly; fill gaps with FAST (Tubi, Pluto, Roku Channel) to cut costs.
• Bundles beat à la carte. Check internet provider or mobile carrier bundles (e.g., Xfinity StreamSaver, Verizon/T-Mobile perks) before adding new subscriptions.
• Live TV = seasonal on/off. For sports/news, use month-to-month services (YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM), then pause after the season/playoffs.
• Internet speed rule of thumb. Higher resolutions require faster download speed. HD 5 Mbps, 4K 15–25 Mbps, plus 20–30% headroom; multiply by simultaneous streams to size your plan.
• Connection choices. Fiber internet: best overall; cable internet: great downstream but variable at peak; 5G Home internet: a good value if the signal is strong; Starlink: a viable rural option for multiple HD/4K streams with solid Wi-Fi.
• Mind platform sharing rules. Most platforms now limit out-of-household sharing; expect “extra member” or add-on fees and potential enforcement.
• Watch your data cap. 4K can consume 7–10 GB/hour; know your plan’s data limit, enable “Data Saver” on secondary screens, and reserve 4K for marquee content.

The State of Streaming

Keeping up with buzzworthy shows still feels like a social sport—but the landscape has shifted. Streaming now accounts for 44.8% of all U.S. TV usage, and U.S. households pay for an average of four paid subscription video on demand (SVOD) services, spending approximately $69/month on them (excluding live-TV bundles).

YouTube holds 12.5% of total TV viewing, and free, ad-supported platforms (FAST) such as Tubi and The Roku Channel are approaching 6%. (Reuters) Ad-supported tiers have become mainstream, now making up about 46% of subscriptions among services that offer both ad-free and ad-supported options. Translation: most homes keep costs down by using ad tiers for secondary apps and reserving ad-free for their favorites. (Antenna)

The rise of streaming also underscores the importance of reliable internet service. According to Netflix, to avoid buffering, HD streams require 5 Mbps per stream, and 4K needs 15–20 Mbps. Rural households without robust wired options increasingly rely on Starlink, which reports typical U.S. download speeds of 45–280 Mbps and median peak-hour latency of about 25 ms—enough for multiple HD and even 4K streams when your Wi-Fi setup is solid.

Cost sensitivity and churn remain defining traits of today’s streaming market, but the pattern is evolving. Price hikes and catalog shifts still frustrate viewers, yet monthly churn for premium SVODs has stabilized around 5% since 2023, as platforms offer bundles and ad tiers rather than endless discounting.

You don’t need every app at once. Rotate platforms by season, rely on FAST between big releases, and use mobile carrier or internet provider bundles to offset rising streaming prices. (Nielsen)

Streaming Wars: Top Platforms Compared

The fight for your screen time is very much alive. Streaming platform competition today is mostly about price tiers, ad options, bundles, and how subscriptions can be shared. Check out how these streaming providers compare head-to-head to find a spot in your streaming library.

Streaming with Live TV

If you want to cut the cord but keep live channels, today’s live TV streaming services include local channels, news, sports, and cloud DVR functionality with month-to-month flexibility. They’re easier to pause or cancel than cable, and several offer add-ons for more screens.

How Can I Save Money on Streaming?

Subscribing to multiple streaming services adds up. Follow these tips to help cut down the cost of your bingeing needs.

Say Yes to Ads

Streaming services will often offer cheaper, ad-supported plans. Compare the cost differences and potential savings between the ad-supported and ad-free plans with Hulu and Prime Video:

• Hulu: With ads $9.99/mo (rising to $11.99 on Oct 21, 2025); No Ads $18.99. That’s $9/mo (soon $7/mo) cheaper than ad-free.
• Prime Video: Ads are now the default with Prime; ad-free is an additional $2.99/mo. If you’re price-sensitive, keep the ads.

Tip: Run ad tiers on secondary apps and keep ad-free only on your must-watch services.

Bundle Services

You might already be subscribing to several services that offer cheaper rates when you bundle.

• Xfinity StreamSaver: Netflix (Standard with ads) + Peacock + Apple TV+ for $15/mo (Xfinity customers). You can pair it with NOW TV for $30/mo total.
• Disney+ bundle (U.S.): Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select in one bill (prices increase Oct 21, 2025; check current bundle page for your configuration).

Share with Friends and Family

“Profiles” in a streaming platform aren’t the same as account sharing. Most services now limit sharing outside your household, but there are ways to split costs:

• Netflix: “Extra Member” slots (only on Standard/Premium, not on ad-supported).
• Disney+: Household-only sharing; paid/limited sharing policies rolling out.
• HBO Max: Extra Member Add-On for direct-billed accounts.
• Prime Video: Amazon Household lets two adults share Prime benefits; 3 concurrent streams (max 2 of the same title).

Tip: Do not share your password with too many people; streaming providers could cut your access at any time.

Leverage Carrier Deals

Major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile often offer deals on some of the most popular streaming services:

• Verizon (myPlan/myHome): Netflix (with ads) + HBO Max (with ads) for $10/mo as a plan perk.
• T-Mobile “Netflix on Us”: Eligible Go5G/Magenta plans include Netflix Standard with ads at no extra cost (upgrade discounts for higher tiers).

Tip: Always confirm eligibility with your mobile carrier—these perks vary by plan and can change.

Search for Student Discounts

One of the best things about college is the student discounts. Your .edu email address can get you big savings or extended free trials on top streaming services like Hulu, Prime Video, and Paramount Plus. The deals are so good that we have a resource dedicated to the best student streaming discounts and deals.

Seasonal subscription + FAST

Turn live-TV bundles (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo) on for sports season and cancel or pause after your favorite team’s last game. Then you can fill gaps with free, ad-supported TV (FAST) platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel.

What is the Best Internet for Streaming Video?

Streaming quality depends more on consistent throughput + in-home Wi-Fi than raw “up to” speed. Use this quick guide to figure out what the best type of internet is for streaming based on your usage:

Minimum Internet Speed by Platform

• Netflix: 3 Mbps (720p), 5 Mbps (1080p), 15 Mbps (4K).
• Prime Video: 5 Mbps for HD (live events often benefit from more headroom).
• YouTube TV: 13 Mbps for reliable HD; 25+ Mbps to view 4K with the 4K Plus add-on.

Rule of thumb: budget about 5 Mbps per HD stream and about 15–25 Mbps per 4K stream, then add 20–30% headroom for other devices.

Pick the right connection type

• Fiber internet: Best overall for consistent 4K, multiple streams, and uploads; symmetric speeds (e.g., 300/300, 1 Gbps).
• Cable internet: Great downstream for several 4K streams; uploads lower than fiber; performance can vary at peak times.
• 5G Home Internet: Good value in strong-signal areas; speeds vary by tower load—test at your address.
• Satellite internet: A strong rural option, Starlink reports roughly 200 Mbps median at peak in the U.S. (July 2025)—enough for several 4K streams if Wi-Fi is solid.

Comparing Internet Needs by Household Size and Video Quality

For context: The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) current broadband benchmark is 100/20 Mbps for fixed service, which aligns well with households running multiple HD and occasional 4K streams.

The TV Landscape, Redrawn: Streaming on Top

Streaming is now the default way Americans watch TV—but “default” doesn’t mean simple. Prices, ad tiers, sharing rules, and sports rights shift. Keep only the apps you’re actively watching, favor ad-supported tiers on secondary services, and rotate subscriptions by season. Match this with a right-sized internet plan and solid Wi-Fi to avoid most pain points.

Building a lineup? Start with must-have shows/sports, then check for internet provider or wireless bundles before paying à la carte. Use FAST apps (Tubi, Roku Channel, Pluto) between big releases. For live TV, verify local channels in your ZIP code and note DVR rules, blackout caveats, and stream limits—details that matter on game day.

Mind the fine print: know your data cap (4K streams add up), follow each service’s sharing policy, and cancel where you subscribed. Do those three and you’ll keep costs predictable, avoid surprise renewals, and still get the content you care about—without a bloated app stack.