Best Streaming Platforms of 2026: Watch-Time & Subscribers
Streaming pillar: Nielsen May 2026 Gauge, Media Distributor Gauge, TheWrap subscriber snapshot; logos from TierMaker US 2026 pack.
How this ranking is put together
Compiled on 2026-08-10. Three main tables: Nielsen The Gauge · May 2026 US TV watch-time by platform; the same month’s Media Distributor Gauge; TheWrap’s latest disclosed paid subscribers. The interactive board uses TierMaker’s “US Streaming Services 2026” logo pack. Complements our TV shows and streamers posts—platforms here, not individual titles or creators.
| Source | Date | What it tracks |
|---|---|---|
| Nielsen · The Gauge / Media Distributor Gauge | May 2026 (5-week window; published Jul 28) | Share of US TV watch-time |
| PPC Land / TheWrap | Same month | Platform & distributor detail |
| TheWrap · Streamers Stack Up (May 2026) | May 2026 update | Last disclosed paid subs |
| Variety · Netflix Q2’26 | 2026 Q2 | Revenue / ads target (secondary) |
| TierMaker · US Streaming Services 2026 | Synced template | Logo tiles for the board |
US watch-time: Nielsen The Gauge (May 2026)
Streaming took about 48.6% of US TV watch-time (+1.0 pt MoM); cable ~20.4%, broadcast ~19.2%. Platforms: YouTube ~13.8%; Netflix ~8.0%; Disney streaming (Disney+ / Hulu / ESPN+) ~4.9%; Prime Video ~4.5% (platform best); The Roku Channel ~3.1%; Paramount Streaming ~2.3%; Peacock ~1.8%.
| # | Platform | Share of US TV watch-time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YouTube | 13.8% |
| 2 | Netflix | 8.0% |
| 3 | Disney streaming (Disney+ / Hulu / ESPN+) | 4.9% |
| 4 | Prime Video | 4.5% |
| 5 | The Roku Channel | 3.1% |
| 6 | Paramount Streaming | 2.3% |
| 7 | Peacock | 1.8% |
Media Distributor Gauge
Parent-company rollups: YouTube ~13.8%; Disney ~10.0%; NBCU + Versant ~8.4%; Netflix ~8.0%; Fox ~6.5%; Warner Bros. Discovery ~5.7%; Amazon ~4.5%; The Roku Channel ~3.1%.
| # | Distributor | Share of US TV watch-time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | YouTube | 13.8% |
| 2 | Disney | 10.0% |
| 3 | NBCU + Versant | 8.4% |
| 4 | Netflix | 8.0% |
| 5 | Fox | 6.5% |
| 6 | Warner Bros. Discovery | 5.7% |
| 7 | Amazon | 4.5% |
| 8 | The Roku Channel | 3.1% |
Subscribers: last public figures
TheWrap’s May 2026 stack-up: Netflix ~325M paid memberships (last milestone after stopping quarterly counts); Disney trio ~219.8M (Disney+ ~131.6M, Hulu ~64.1M, ESPN+ ~24.1M); Paramount+ ~79.6M; Peacock ~46M. Prime Video and YouTube are not ranked on the same paid-SVOD line.
| # | Platform | Subscribers (last disclosed) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netflix | ~325M |
| 2 | Disney+ + Hulu + ESPN+ | ~219.8M |
| 3 | Paramount+ | ~79.6M |
| 4 | Peacock | ~46M |
Revenue note: Netflix Q2 2026 revenue ~$12.56B (+13.4% YoY); FY26 revenue guide ~$51.0–$51.4B; ads still tracking toward ~$3B in 2026.
FAST / free ad tiers
The Roku Channel’s 3.1% Gauge share sits with Tubi, Pluto, Freevee and other ad-funded shelves. Fox’s June 2026 agreement to buy Roku would combine Fox linear share with Roku Channel under one roof—both logos are on the board below.
互动体验：拖拽排位《US Streaming Services 2026》
US Streaming Services 2026
US Streaming Services 2026
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