Nearly three-quarters of US TV viewers binge-watch

The latest Digital Democracy Survey report found that such viewers watch an average of five episodes at a time, and almost a third (31%) binge on a weekly basis. In addition to binge-watching, nearly half (46%) of Americans now subscribe to streaming video services, with millennials aged 14-25 spending more time streaming video content than watching live television.

This demographic steadily consumes huge chunks of video. The survey data reveals that more than half of all consumers and three-quarters of millennials watch films and TV shows via streaming on at least a monthly basis. Furthermore, and casting doubt on those who call the demographic ‘generation-free’, millennials aged 26-32 who currently pay for streaming video have an average of three subscriptions. That said, the part of the group aged 14-25 value their streaming video subscriptions more than pay-TV subscriptions. Social media sites were shown to have surpassed television as the most popular source of news for millennials.

Over a third of baby boomers aged 50-68 (35%) who binge-watch TV do so once a week, and average four episodes per sitting, and over half (53%) of US consumers who binge-watch choose television dramas. The Digital Democracy Survey also showed that the percentage of streaming subscribers who ranked the service among their top three most valued subscriptions has tripled in the last three year to 61%.

“The proliferation of online content shows no signs of slowing down and the consumer appetite to consume content is equally voracious,” said Gerald Belson, vice chairman and US media and entertainment sector leader, Deloitte Consulting. “The survey data indicates that consumers are more willing than ever to invest in services to watch whenever, wherever, and on whatever device they choose.”