The majority of streamers in the United States are watching at least some of their shows, movies and other videos through advertising-based products, according to a new research paper released by Parks Associates this week.

The paper examined the popularity of ad-supported streaming services in American homes, and discussed how marketers can tap into the opportunities presented by interactive ad formats as more Americans use ad-supported video services.

Four out of five Americans are now streaming content with ads through a combination of free video platforms and premium, subscription-based services, the Parks Associates report revealed. Fifty-nine percent of Americans subscribe to an ad-based tier of a streaming video service like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus or Peacock, while another 47 percent say they stream ad-based content from free platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.

Nearly one out of four Americans have a streaming cable alternative like YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV or Philo, Parks Associates found.

All told, Parks Associates projects more than 278 million Americans will use subscription-based, ad-supported video products by 2029, and around 250 million will use free streaming services supported by ads.

“Industry players can take productive steps today to advance the interactive TV experience for viewers and advertisers by connecting workflows, making effective use of available data, and optimizing user experience elements for interactivity,” Jennifer Kent, the Vice President of Research at Parks Associates, said in a statement. “Success involves building sustainable, scalable solutions for the long term rather than quick, band-aid solutions that address only immediate challenges.”

From the article, "Parks: Most streamers use ad-supported products" by Matthew Keys