22 Essential Video Streaming Statistics and Trends to Watch in 2019

Inspired by the wealth of statistics and research available online, we’ve combed the internet and collated and categorized the most current, interesting video streaming statistics and trends to keep an eye on. We’re also sharing an exclusive insight into some of the data we’ve gathered directly from our own enterprise customers to understand how they’re using live video in their organizations as well as some of the challenges they’re facing along the way.

Let’s start with the changing landscape of the broadcast sector, how viewing habits are evolving, customer expectations are rising and how the demand for live video continues to skyrocket.

Increased Cord-cutting is Driving the Growth of Streaming Video Platforms

There’s no doubt about it, the way we consume media is changing. The lines between television, film, and streaming video are blurring. Cord-cutting and cord-trimming show no signs of slowing down and continue to outpace projections across all age groups. As a result, live and on-demand streaming platforms that bypass traditional distribution are on the rise and, with over 200 services to choose from in the US alone, competition for viewers is fierce.

#1  In the US, cord-cutting almost doubled in 2018 with traditional pay TV providers losing more than 2.8 million subscribers, compared to 1.5 million in 2017.

#2 Netflix added more paid subscribers than ever in the first quarter of 2019 adding 9.6 million subscribers between January and March, bringing its subscriber total to 148.9 million by the end of the quarter. Statista

#3  For the first time, a higher percentage of US households subscribe to a streaming service (69%) than to traditional pay TV (65%).  Deloitte

#4  Demographics are no longer an accurate predictor of video consumption as the behavior of younger and older generations is starting to converge. 28% of older consumers (50+) have cut the cord, up from 19% in 2017. PWC

Despite the rise in cord-cutters, cord-trimmers, and cord-nevers (those who have never signed up for traditional pay TV), live TV watching continues to flourish.

#5  65% of pay TV watchers prefer to watch TV live, up from 53% last year.  PWC

Heightened Viewer Expectations and Waning Patience

Original, great quality content is important – subscribers want to watch shows and movies that they can’t get anywhere else and they’re willing to pay a premium for endless, better quality content.

#6  The number of original scripted TV shows has more than doubled between 2009 and 2018, from 210 (an all-broadcast or cable figure) to 496, with streaming-only shows accounting for about a third of that new total at 160. CCIA

#7  Some pay TV subscribers add live streaming to access programming that’s not available through their service. 29% of consumers pay for a live TV streaming service, and up to 41% of consumers have access to a live TV streaming service. Deloitte

#8  29% of consumers would pay a premium if 5G provided “better quality video” on mobile devices and “decreased buffering while streaming video”. PWC

In situations where expectations of experiences on par with traditional TV viewing were not met, viewers are increasingly losing patience. When faced with streaming TV delays, abandonment increased significantly in 2018.

#9  Abandonment increased significantly faster in 2018 which translates to 14.6% of viewers leaving before their video started. Conviva

#10 While quality for live streams continued to improve year-over-year, exits before the video started increased by a massive 49% to 16.7% from 11.2% in 2017. Conviva

#11 Overall, streaming TV providers delivered a dramatic improvement in the quality of streams in 2018. Streaming TV providers and their viewers saw 34% fewer video start failures, 23% better picture quality (higher resolution in terms of bitrate), and 9% faster video start time. Conviva

Video Traffic Predictions

What’s the future impact on video traffic when trying to meet the demand for our insatiable appetite for more video content?

#12 Globally, IP video traffic will be 82% of all IP traffic (both business and consumer) by 2022, up from 75% in 2017. Cisco

#13 Live Internet video will account for 17% of internet video traffic by 2022. Live video will grow 15-fold from 2017 to 2022. Cisco

#14  Consumer Video-on-Demand (VoD) traffic will nearly double by 2022. The amount of VoD traffic by 2022 will be equivalent to 10 billion DVDs per month. Cisco

Live Video

In 2018 live event coverage was responsible for the biggest viewing spikes and the rise in numbers of streaming viewership numbers nationally and globally.  

#15 The US saw a 217% spike in live news viewership with the midterm election and the World Cup lifted overall global traffic up by 29%. Conviva

#16 Live sports continue to be a significant motivator keeping people connected to the cord. 89% of sports fans say they prefer to watch sports games live and 91% subscribe to pay TV for access to live games.  PWC

#17 With the explosive growth in live viewers, live Esports audiences are reaching similar figures to mainstream sporting events. The 2018 Mid-Season Invitational tournament of League of Legends achieved a record-breaking 60 million unique viewers worldwide. Statista

What About Enterprise Streaming?

Haivision recently conducted a survey among its own customers which revealed some interesting findings about live video streaming in the workplace.

#18 55% of enterprises are using live video for their company or division-wide broadcasts.

#19 53% stream or broadcast live video in their organization at least once a week with 29% using it daily.

#20 65% of those surveyed said they live streamed to multiple locations.

#21 The top 3 challenges respondent faced included: live streaming to employees working remotely (41%), live streaming from remote locations or conference centers (39%) and managing bandwidth in their facilities (36%).

#22 81% display their live video streams or broadcasts on employee desktops and 64% display on mobile devices or smartphones while 31% used a combination of TVs and screens with set-top boxes.

All these trends indicate that video content, especially live video content, is becoming more pervasive in both our personal and professional lives. The internet is making it easier than ever to create and distribute content and actively engage audiences no matter what where they are or what platform they’re using.

To learn how pioneering organizations like Red Bee Media, MediaKind, Globo TV and Fox News are leveraging the internet to create efficiencies and flexibility in their broadcast workflows, watch the panel recording from this year’s NAB Show.