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State of the Screens

Tubi and the Roku Channel Have Joined the Chat

By June 20, 2024No Comments

tubi and roku channel

Four big questions re: how we watch TV:
1) Which TV networks are growing the fastest?
2) Is broadcast/cable gaining ground on streaming?
3) Does streaming reach more people than linear TV?
4) How old is the average audience for linear TV networks?

Big question #1: Which TV networks are growing the fastest?

Quick answer: Tubi (↑ 38%) and the Roku Channel (↑ 36%)

Interesting: Both Tubi and the Roku Channel are growing their share of total TV time 5X faster than viewers.

Big question #2: Is broadcast/cable gaining ground on streaming?

Quick answer: No.  The combined share for broadcast/cable fell 6% over the past year.

Share of total TV time according to Nielsen:
1) Streaming – 39%
2) Cable – 28%
3) Broadcast – 22%
4) Other – 10%

Big question #3: Does streaming reach more people than linear TV?

Quick answer: Yes.  Streaming now reaches more people AND has a higher unique reach than linear TV.

Reach on TV according to MRI Simmons:
1) Cross screen – 43%
2) Streaming only – 34%
3) Linear TV only –  16%
4) Unreachable – 7%

Bottom line: This trend will majorly impact the 2024 election.  Swing voters are ahead of the curve for streaming TV adoption.

Flashback: The Streaming Decade in Four Steps

The streaming decade in four steps:
1) 2025 – Streaming TV surpasses linear TV in total reach ← YOU ARE HERE
2) 2026 – Streaming TV surpasses linear TV in time spent
3) 2028 – Streaming TV surpasses linear TV in ad spend
4) 2030 – Streaming TV surpasses linear TV in ad impressions

Big question #4: How old is the average audience for linear TV networks?

Average age by linear TV network according to Nielsen:
1) MSNBC – 70
2) Fox News – 69
3) CBS – 68
4) CNN – 67
5) HGTV – 66
6) ABC – 66
7) The CW – 65
8) NBC – 65
9) Fox – 58
10) TNT – 56
11) Bravo – 56
12) MTV – 51

PSA: The average American is 39 years old.

Michael Beach

Michael Beach is the Chief Executive Officer of Cross Screen Media, a media analytics and software company that enables marketers to plan, activate, and measure CTV and linear TV at the local level. Michael is also the founder and editor of State of the Screens, a weekly newsletter focused on video advertising that is a must-read for thought leaders in the advertising industry. He has appeared in such publications as PBS Frontline, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Axios, CNBC and Bloomberg, and on NPR’s Planet Money podcast.