Every Streaming Service Explained with Subscribers, Content & More

For a relatively new medium, dating back to 1998 with the creation of ITV but not made mainstream until Netflix launched its platform in 2007, streaming has become one of the most popular ways we consume movies and TV. Reported as recently as June 2024, over 40% of family households have TV dedicated solely to using streaming services, making it more popular than broadcasting and cable services. Moreover, 83% of North American households are reported to have at least one streaming service, with Americans spending an average of 3 hours and 6 minutes a day watching streaming services in 2023 (via Exploding Topics).

The market has become very competitive, a billion-dollar industry that has seen numerous streaming platforms come and go. Still, the industry has seen its staples, with the biggest platforms finding inventive ways to grow their brand and creating original content that keeps viewers invested financially and with their time to keep subscribers. As of 2024, the three biggest streaming platforms are Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+, with Netflix and Prime Video competing for first place and Disney+ sitting in third. However, in the realm of public opinion, Max has been reported to be the most popular (via Variety).

We will closely examine the four previously mentioned streaming services to show how they have asserted their dominance in the competitive industry, as well as highlight the other heavy hitters that have carved out their own market share.

Netflix Is a Pioneer in the Streaming Industry

While not the first to dip its toes into the world of streaming, Netflix is a pioneer in the format in many ways. It started as a DVD/Blu-ray rental/delivery service and transitioned that momentum into streaming, launching on January 15, 2007. The platform has significantly benefited from being at the forefront and has made itself the number-one source for streaming.

Even while other streaming companies offer a lot of original content, it is hard to overlook just how successful Netflix has been with its international offerings, from anime like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Devilman Crybaby to becoming the home of South Korean dramas with series like Squid Game and Sweet Home. You also have hit original series like Wednesday, Stranger Things, and The Queen’s Gambit, to name a few, alongside the most talked about reality TV series like Love is Blind and The Circle. Regarding original content, Netflix is king, but how does this translate to the numbers?

Netflix Is the King of Original Content

Netflix’s numbers continue to grow, even in the face of minor and major controversies, from the most recent revelation that they were making political donations calling for a boycott to a password-sharing clampdown and price hike that had many subscribers up in arms. According to Statista, as of Q2 of 2024, Netflix has approximately 277.65 million paid subscribers worldwide, an over 8 million increase from the previous quarter.

The company’s market share also reflects its efforts to attract content from around the globe. According to Business of Apps, while Netflix makes the most money from the US and Canada (44% of its revenue), in 2023, it reported 79.8 million users in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) compared to North America’s 75.5. They have also made substantial gains in the Asia-Pacific region, growing from just over 10 million in 2018 to over 40 million in 2023. Regarding overall health, in 2023, Netflix reported $33.72 billion in profits, with $13 billion of that going to new Original content production (via BacklinkO).

Quick Facts:

• The median age of Netflix users is between 35–44 years old.
• Despite attempts to clamp down on password sharing, an estimated 31% of users do not pay for the platform.
• Netflix has 1,300 “recommendation clusters,” populated based on user experience.
• The most watched original is Wednesday, with 252.1 million views.
• Netflix acquired the global streaming rights to Seinfeld for more than $500 million in September 2019.
• Adults spend an average of 62.1 minutes per day watching Netflix, an increase from 53.3 minutes in 2019.

Prime Video Is Netflix’s Biggest Competitor

Prime Video was launched on September 7, 2006, under Amazon Unbox. From there, it underwent several re-brandings, including the short-lived Amazon Instant Video in 2011, before adopting the well-known name Prime Video. Of course, the power behind the streaming service comes from its owner, Amazon, which, as of August 13, 2024, reported a market capitalization of approximately $1.75 trillion, making it a global powerhouse.

The streaming giant has also made major moves, including licensing live content for events like NFL games and merging with MGM Studios. For many, the streaming service is best known for its original content, including shows like The Boys, Fleabag, Fallout, and Outer Range among their expansive library and feature films like Air, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, and One Night in Miami.

Backed By the Might of Amazon

Prime has proven itself to be the biggest competitor to Netflix, with it estimated in 2024 that Prime slightly beats out with 22% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to Netflix’s 20% (via Statista) in North America. This is arguably due to Amazon’s structure, including the streaming service integration as part of a benefit for Amazon Prime membership subscribers. As of 2024, Prime Video has approximately 200 million subscribers globally.

However, 2024 will prove to be a pivotal year for the streaming platform, with the introduction of an ad-supported Prime Video tier made available in select markets, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada. According to Business Insider, Wall Street sees this potential move as driving upward of $5 billion in revenue for Amazon Prime and generating additional revenue from viewers who pay additional fees to not see ads. For the consumer, more advertisements are always a negative, but this structure could see a big growth in financial gain in 2024 for the streaming service, which could feasibly roll over into more content.

Quick Facts

• Prime’s largest audience is 25 to 34 years old, which makes up about 32.63% of the audience.
• Fallout became the second-most-watched title on Prime Video within two weeks of its release, with 65 million viewers watching the premiere.
• Prime Video is the clear leader in the content available on premium streaming platforms, with a library of over 12,000 movies and 2,000 TV series.
• Amazon’s total spending on video content in 2023 reached approximately $18.9 billion, a 14% increase from the previous year.

Disney+ Has a Strong Library of Classic Films

Disney+ launched on November 12, 2019, as part of Disney’s larger strategy to compete in the streaming market. Through its landmark classic films, Disney has long been synonymous with children’s entertainment. Beyond its classic catalogs, Disney+ has come home to Pixar animated works, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, and National Geographic documentaries. This gives the streaming platform standout movies like Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame, Toy Story, and Inside Out, alongside original TV content like WandaVision, Loki, The Mandalorian, and Ahsoka.

The House of Mouse Offers an Abundance of Classics and Beloved Franchises

Things have been tough for Disney+ despite its massive catalog, which saw an impressive first day of over 10 million subscribers based on its existing catalog. According to Business of Apps, as of early 2024, Disney+ has approximately 157.8 million subscribers, less than its peak of 164 million in November 2022. Overall, Disney+ has incurred substantial financial losses, over $11.4 billion since its inception.

However, the streaming giant has been seeing improvement, reporting a marginal loss of $20 million for the quarter ending on March 30, 2024. It is slowly closing the gap to make the streaming platform run at a profit. To combat stagnation, Disney+ has bundled itself with Hulu in some regions, offering more content on the same scale as other streaming platforms and continuing to invest in original content.

Quick Facts:

• The Disney+ content library contains 7,500 TV episodes and 500 films.
• The Mandalorian appears to be the platform’s greatest success, with it recorded in 2020 that the series clocked in 14.5 billion minutes watched.
• WandaVision is reported to have the largest production budget for TV shows on Disney+, with a reported $25 million per episode.
• Children and teenagers (Ages 2-17) make up the largest audience of Disney+, reported to be 45%, notably higher than other streaming platforms (Statista)
• Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 for approximately $4.05 billion but has struggled to profit from the franchise.

Max Features Prestige Television

Max, formerly known as HBO Max, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which has made the platform a powerhouse despite being a relative latecomer to the streaming market in 2020. The streaming platform includes the best DC Entertainment movies and access to popular TV stations for reality TV content like TLC and HGTV. Max includes everything under the HBO banner, which had set itself apart as the premiere place for boundary-pushing and innovative TV.

This gives Max a unique catalog of acclaimed series like Station Eleven, Industry, and The Staircase, alongside some of the biggest blockbuster franchises, like Harry Potter and the DC Extended Universe, with a healthy helping of binge-worthy shows like​​​​​​ 90 Day Fiancé and Good Bones. For those in Canada, Max’s content is available through Crave.

A Mix of Class and Big Budget Thrills

As of the first quarter of 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery reported nearly 100 million subscribers to streaming services Max, HBO, HBO Max, and Discovery+, with its largest market being Canada and USA (via Statista). Other statistics that paint a picture of Max are slightly more outdated but still give an impression of how the streaming giant has fared since its inception. According to Business of Apps, in 2022, HBO Max reported a revenue of $534.5 million through its 50 million subscriber base.

A 2020 survey by Advance Television shows that millennials (23-38) gave Max more recognition than any other platform; 73% are aware of the service, and 26% are likely to subscribe. Millennials and Gen Z viewers were particularly interested in Warner Library and CW Shows. In contrast, older millennials and Gen X viewers gravitate towards HBO titles and Max Originals. This gives further credence to the previously mentioned favorable opinion that Max has over its competitors.

Quick Facts

• Despite its final season premiering before the launch of HBO Max, Game of Thrones remains the most popular show on the platform.
• House of the Dragon attracted 10 million viewers for its first episode, making it the platform’s most successful premiere.
• The Last of Us is HBO Max’s most-watched title, averaging 32 million viewers per episode.
• Max features approximately 2,200 movies and around 1,200 TV shows, over 35,000 hours of content.

Paramount+ Has Some Sci-Fi and Reality TV Favorites

Paramount+ is owned by Paramount Global, formed through the merger of CBS Corporation and Viacom in 2019. This gives the streaming platform access to programming from both CBS and Viacom, including streaming of sports events on CBS. For sci-fi fans, Paramount+ has become the home of Star Trek, including all the TV series and originals like Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Other notable programs include The Good Fight, Yellowstone, and Mayor of Kingstown. The platform’s other big attractions include the exclusive South Park movies and the pioneering reality TV series Big Brother.

Home to Beloved Franchises Like Star Trek and South Park

Paramount+ is positioning itself as one of the top three streaming platforms, recording a milestone in the first quarter of 2024 when it reached 71.2 million subscribers worldwide (via The Verge). However, similar to many other streaming platforms, Paramount+ saw a loss of $286 million in this quarter (down from $511 million at the same time in 2023). Paramount+ is aiming to reach profitability in 2025. The most popular show on Paramount+ is South Park, out of an impressive library with over 30,000 movies and TV series from networks like CBS, Comedy Central, BET, MTV, and VH1.

Hulu Could See Big Changes in the Future

The Walt Disney Company has the largest ownership share in Hulu, which acquired a controlling interest in the streaming service by purchasing 21st Century Fox in 2019. Despite this ownership, the two remain separate, with Hulu content accessible through the Disney+ app, though users can still access the content through Hulu itself. This means that the future of Hulu could look very different than its current snapshot in subsequent years.

Still, Hulu has shown great success, particularly with The Handmaid’s Tale, Only Murders in the Building, The Bear, and Shōgun, among the most fan-loved and critically acclaimed TV series of the modern era. The streaming platform is also home to reality TV’s most famous family, The Kardashians.

Quality TV Content Has Made Hulu a Streaming Staple

Regarding the subscriber count, Hulu has around 48.5 million paying subscribers, with 4.4 million utilizing its Live TV service as of November 2023. It recently reported that for Q2 of 2024, it had reached 50.2 million paid subscribers (via Statista).

According to Business of Apps, in 2023, Hulu reported $11.2 billion in revenue, though its profitability from that amount is unclear. Disney valued the app at $15.8 billion in 2019 when it agreed to acquire it from Comcast. The platform has continued to grow since its launch, thanks to stand-out programming, such as the aforementioned series Shōgun. Hulu boasts around 1,650 shows and more than 2,500 movies.

Apple TV+ Is an Underrated Streaming Service

Apple TV+ officially launched on November 1, 2019, and is available in over 100 countries. It has garnered a reputation for creating high-quality productions, with collaborations from well-known actors and filmmakers, drawing favorable comparisons to HBO’s content catalog.

This includes the breakaway success of Ted Lasso, which garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase. Other notable original series include The Morning Show, Silo, and Severance. The streaming platform has also come home to high-quality original documentaries, like 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, and Beastie Boys Story.

High-End Content on a Struggling Platform

According to a report from Bloomberg published in July 2024, Apple TV+ lags far behind Netflix, holding a measly 0.2% of TV viewership in the United States. This means that Netflix gets more views in one day than Apple TV+ does in a month. In 2022, it was reported that Apple TV+ had 25 million paid subscribers, with up to 50 million through other offers (via Statista), which showed rather unremarkable numbers compared to its competitors.

While Apple TV+’s profits, or lack thereof, have not been widely reported, it can run at a negative, with its parent company, Apple Inc., valued at $3.36 trillion as of August 2024. Apple TV+ also offers rentals, though they do not disclose these numbers, and whether they offset the lack of streaming numbers is uncertain. Ted Lasso is reportedly the most streamed program on the platform, despite concluding its final third season on May 31, 2023​​​.

Tubi Has the Largest Free Streaming Library

FOX Entertainment owns Tubi and has partnered with over 400 content partners to provide the largest online library of ad-supported free viewing (over 40,000 movies and TV series). In addition, the service offers live TV streaming with over 200 stations. Tubi is known for its quantity of free content but has also moved into original programming of TV series and movies. Through its partnerships and being under the Fox Corporation Banner, Tubi has become the best place to stream all things Gordon Ramsay and the home for children’s classics like Barney.

The Largest Free Streaming Library

Tubi is one platform that has seen substantial growth since its inception, gaining popularity that rivals most streaming platforms by leading the way for modeling the ad-supported free streaming service combined with a massive library of content. According to Statista, as of March 2024, Tubi had nearly 80 million monthly active users worldwide, a substantial growth from 2022, which saw an active user base of 64 million. This has also made Tubi considered the second-biggest free streaming platform after YouTube, though by a large margin, with 2.70 billion monthly active users on YouTube.

Peacock Is Heaven for Fans of Comedy

Peacock, owned and operated by NBCUniversal, launched on July 15, 2020. The platform, pulled from NBC’s massive television catalog, has become one of the premier streaming options for comfort watches, engaging dramas, and reality TV. Peacock has one of the most impressive catalogs for comedy TV, with hits like The Office and Parks and Recreation alongside popular original series like Poker Face and Bel-Air. For reality TV, you have the hit The Traitors, alongside juicy drama from The Real Housewives and Love Island USA.

Home of the Best TV Entertainment

Peacock has been seeing considerable growth. According to Recreation Crush, as of Q2 2024, the platform announced 33 million subscribers, a 38% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, though it should be noted that there was a one million decrease between Q1 and Q2. The report also noted that Peacock generated approximately $2.1 billion in revenue in the first half of 2024.

While behind other giants, Peacock’s TV content has given it a comfortable niche in the competitive streaming world. This includes its massive library, which offers 80,000+ hours of on-demand content and 50+ live channels. Its most popular show is The Office, which consistently tops the streaming platforms charts.

AMC+ Is Bundled With Other Brands

AMC+ was launched on October 1, 2020, by AMC Networks to offer a curated selection of original series, movies, and exclusive content. One of the strengths of AMC+ comes from its tailored content under other brands, including BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, Acorn TV, and HIDIVE. Notably, Shudder offers the perfect haven for horror hounds creating its original content in addition to its existing library.

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AMC+ content has found critical acclaim and favor with fans, with The Walking Dead franchise being among their most streamed content. Other notable standouts on their platform include Mad Men, Better Call Saul, Gangs of London, Killing Eve, and Dark Winds.

The Leader in Curated Content

In 2024, AMC Networks reported 11.5 million streaming subscribers across its various platforms, which resulted in a Q1 profit of $45.8 million (via Variety). However, the streaming service has had rather uneven success in streaming, with a decrease in domestic revenue (14%) compared to the previous year and also saw a decline in ad sales (13%), distribution sales (15%), subscription sales (7%), affiliate revenue (4%) and content licensing (40%). Though the streaming revenues increased by 3% from the previous year’s first quarter, this shows that AMC+ has been struggling in the ultra-competitive market.

With the use of ad-supported plans, focus on targeted content, and looking for ways to enhance the user experience, the streaming platform still has a lot of life left in it. The streaming platform does have a staple in the Walking Dead franchise, with The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (631,000 viewers) as the most-watched series debut, beating out The Walking Dead: Dead City, with the show set to be AMC+’s biggest with its second season set to premiere on September 29, 2024.

List of Notable Streaming Services:

• Acorn TV
• Amazon Freevee
• Amazon Prime Video
• AMC+
• Apple TV+
• Britbox
• Crackle
• Crunchyroll
• Disney+
• Fandor
• Fubo
• HIDIVE
• Hoopla
• Hulu
• IFC Films Unlimited
• KOCOWA+
• KweliTV
• Max
• Mubi
• Paramount+
• Peacock
• Philo
• Shudder
• Starz
• Tubi
• The Criterion Channel
• The Roku Channel