In the UK, one viewing metric has YouTube edging out the BBC. Meanwhile, global ad tier usage continues to grow, driven by Netflix, and Peacock is losing key Versant programming.
YouTube’s reach exceeds the UK’s BBC (2:00)
Between October and December 2025, YouTube reached more people in the UK than the BBC, when using a three-minute viewing window. This is the first time this has ever happened in the UK. The BBC still claims supremacy when looking at a 15-minute window. YouTube’s growth reflects the difficulty broadcasters have in competing with its unique business model.
Ad-supported SVOD tiers see exceptional growth in 2025 (7:40)
Around the world, SVOD ad tiers saw phenomenal growth in 2025. Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max all saw big increases in the number of ad-tier subscribers. Only one provider – Amazon Prime Video – saw a decline, though there are special reasons that suggest its decline might not signal trouble.
Ampere Analysis expects a small increase in global content spending in 2026. Streamers are expected to grow their share of overall spending. This signals challenges for the broadcasters around the world.
Versant cable content leaves Peacock, brings problems (19:20)
Now that Versant’s separation from Comcast is final, content from cable channels like MS Now, USA, and SyFy channel is leaving Peacock. The departure could hurt Peacock’s viewing time and lead to some subscriber cancellations. It also negatively impacts viewers by further fragmenting the content, forcing them to subscribe to more services than before.
