Netflix Just Knocked the BBC Off Its Throne — Streaming Emerges as Fastest Growing Category: Report
Netflix Just Knocked the BBC Off Its Throne — Streaming Emerges as Fastest Growing Category: Report
Ananya GairolaWed, July 29, 2026 at 8:21 AM UTC
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Netflix Inc.(NASDAQ:NFLX) has become the first choice for British viewers deciding what to watch, according to Ofcom’s latest Media Nations report.
Netflix Overtakes the BBC in UK Viewing Habits
Netflix has edged past the BBC as Britain’s top destination for television viewing.
According to the report, 26% of viewers said they turn to Netflix first when choosing what to watch, narrowly ahead of the BBC at 25%.
“While Netflix occupied the top two positions for the most-watched programmes overall in 2025 with K-Pop Demon Hunters and Adolescence, the BBC has so far claimed eight of the ten most-watched programmes of 2026,” the report said.
ITV ranked third, with 15% of viewers naming it as their first choice, highlighting the growing competition traditional broadcasters face from streaming platforms.
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Streaming Growth Continues While Traditional TV Slips
The report found that streaming services operated by U.K. broadcasters—including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 Streaming and 5—grew 9% year over year, making them the fastest-growing category of television services.
Subscription streaming platforms are now available in around 70% of British households, though Ofcom noted that adoption has largely plateaued after swift growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, traditional broadcast television continued to lose reach.
Around 70% of people in Britain watched content from traditional broadcasters for at least 15 minutes a week in 2025, down from 73% in 2024 and 78% in 2022.
YouTube Expands Across Every Generation
Ofcom also highlighted YouTube’s growing role in home entertainment. YouTube is a video-sharing platform owned by Alphabet Inc.’s(NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL)Google.
Average daily viewing on television sets climbed to 19 minutes per person in 2025, up from nine minutes in 2022, while viewing across all devices increased to 41 minutes a day from 33 minutes.
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Even older audiences are embracing the platform. Weekly YouTube reach among people aged 75 and older rose to 33% in 2025 from 28% three years earlier.
Despite the broader shift toward streaming, live events remain a major draw, with England’s World Cup semifinal against Argentina attracting a peak audience of 24 million viewers across BBC platforms on July 15.
The U.K.’s audio sector retained the highest media reach, with 93% of adults listening weekly and 87% tuning into live radio.
Price Action: Netflix shares closed up 2.83% at $72.39 on Tuesday and gained another 0.99% to $73.11 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro.
According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Netflix is in a negative trend across all major time frames but ranks in the 92nd percentile for quality.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Photo Courtesy: marekfromrzeszow on Shutterstock.com
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This article Netflix Just Knocked the BBC Off Its Throne — Streaming Emerges as Fastest Growing Category: Report originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
