WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new national poll from Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition finds that viewers strongly prefer streaming platforms to access video programming over traditional video services and that a majority of consumers are opposed to the idea of regulating vMVPDs like YouTube TV or FuboTV by the same rules governing traditional cable and satellite TV providers.
The Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition is a strong opponent of proposals from broadcast station groups and the NAB to get the FCC regulate vMVPDs like traditional pay TV operators. The Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition is backed by ABC, CBS, FOX, Fubo, NBC, Roku, Telemundo, Univision, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
This poll, conducted in partnership with Change Research, considers American viewers' preferences for watching video content, how and where they watch, the availability of local news on streaming and whether they support imposing new regulations on streaming platforms.
"The data shows that streaming services are the preferred viewing method for many Americans," says Bryce Harlow, Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition spokesperson. "Viewers want the ability to choose their content and control costs and oppose proposals for the FCC to regulate streaming like cable, which jeopardizes those priorities."
Findings from the poll include:
- Viewers strongly prefer streaming video (64%) to watching it via cable or satellite (23%).
- Fewer than 1 in 5 find it difficult to stream local news, and far more watch local news on phones, laptops and tablets than watch on televisions.
- More Americans oppose regulating streaming like cable; of the 57% who oppose these proposed regulations, 42% strongly oppose them.
- Viewers are more concerned with cost and convenience than the ability to watch live content on a television.
- Americans today watch video online, more often than via cable. Respondents say they watch video online at least a few hours per week, either through clips on social media (66%) or via subscription on-demand services, such as Disney+ or Hulu (60%).
- Live streaming services, including YouTube TV and Fubo are also popular, with 45% of Americans saying they view video content on those platforms weekly.
- Almost half of Americans (48%) indicate they never watch cable or satellite TV and 3 in 4 say they never watch antenna TV.
- Local news is widely available and easy to access for Americans of all ages. 84% of respondents said they often or sometimes view local news on a smartphone, computer or tablet versus only 48% who said they often or sometimes view on their television via cable or satellite. A majority of respondents across all age groups found it easy to access local news broadcasts on streaming platforms, while fewer than 1 in 5 found it difficult.
- Respondents were almost evenly split between cable/satellite and streaming viewership for local news – 40% and 37% respectively.
- Streaming service perks like content and convenience are attractive to consumers, with the majority of viewers indicating they are content with the current streaming model. Viewers generally express satisfaction with streaming, with most American adults (57%) opposing regulating streaming like cable.
- Most viewers (66%) believe that streaming services give them more access to content than cable or satellite.
- Most surveyed (62%) believe that it is easier to switch streaming services than to switch cable providers, speaking to the ease of opting in and out of streaming platforms.
- Just as many respondents 65 and older feel the same about cable/satellite as they do streaming, younger people are far more likely to feel more positive about streaming.
- Respondents overwhelmingly ranked hidden fees (92%) and price (80%) as their top concerns when watching video content.
The poll was designed and conducted by Change Research in partnership with the Preserve Viewer Choice Coalition. The poll included a representative sample of 1,573 registered voters nationwide surveyed between January 10 - 15, 2024 and was conducted online in English. The modeled margin of error is +/-2.6%.
More information is available at https://www.preserveviewerchoice.org/#/.
