Broadcast network rough time indicates a change in media situation

Two milestones revealed this week show the decline in the power of television broadcast in the media world.

In June, viewers spent more time watching streaming services than a combined broadcast and cable television. It first happened in May, with some at a percentage rate, but the Nielsen company said Tuesday that the gap had widened considerably in June.

Also, for the third time in a row, Nielsen said Fox News Channel has more viewers on weekday nights, Primetime than broadcast networks, CBS, NBC, and Fox Entertainment.

For years, the mantra of media executives was that streaming represented the future of entertainment in the home. Now, that future has clearly arrived.

Broadcast TV is below 20% of total

In June, 46% of Americans’ television time was spent on streaming services led by YouTube and Netflix. Cable TV networks accounted for 23.4% and broadcasts were 18.5%, totaling just under 42%, Nielsen said. It was the first time that television broadcast less than 20% of television viewing.

“It felt like a bit of the right time,” said Brian Fuller, senior vice president of Nielsen’s product strategy and thought leadership. “A lot of people thought it would happen faster.”

The driving force behind June was a school that ended with a school for young people. In other words, there was more time to watch TV, where Netflix series such as Ginny & Georgia and Squid Games were huge hits. About two-thirds of people aged 6 to 17 watch streaming in front of traditional television, Nielsen said.

In June 2024, the numbers were roughly reversed. 47.7% of people watched traditional TV on average. 40.3% have logged on to streaming services.

The direction is clear, but it is not a traditional TV death confession. June and July are holiday months, and their viewing will increase when the football season begins and the original episodes of comedy and drama return, Fuhrer said.

Content will be distributed to more platforms

It’s not a strict situation either. He said media companies are doing a better job than spreading content across a variety of platforms and giving viewers choice. The growth of YouTube, which many consumers can access for free, is being driven by “traditional” television portals and streaming services as well.

Fox News previously occasionally halted broadcast networks with viewership ratings, but last week marked the seventh week in 2025, already combining 2024 and over 2023. It averaged 2.4 million viewers last weekday primetime, Nielsen said.

Fox News takes advantage of the broadcast network’s least viewed time of the year when summer nights and barbecues keep people outside. The difference this year is that, for example, during President Donald Trump’s inauguration week in January, within weeks since the summer.

The oldest audience of all television networks is pretty stable throughout the year.

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