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Streaming Surpasses Broadcast and Cable TV Viewing in US for the First Time

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Streaming services have overtaken traditional broadcast and cable television in the United States, capturing a larger share of viewers in May than the two combined, according to Nielsen’s monthly report, The Gauge, released Tuesday.

In May, streaming accounted for 44.8% of total TV usage in the U.S., marking a significant milestone in the shift toward digital platforms. Leading the charge, YouTube alone held a 12.5% share of all television viewing, the highest for any streaming service.

Free ad-supported streaming services such as PlutoTV, Roku Channel, and Fox’s Tubi also gained traction, collectively attracting 5.7% of total TV viewers, Nielsen said.

In comparison, traditional broadcast TV accounted for 20% of viewership, while cable TV held 24% in May.

The rise of streaming, which accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic as viewers sought home entertainment options, underscores a fundamental change in how audiences consume content. On-demand viewing is increasingly favored over scheduled programming, reshaping the media landscape and affecting both advertisers and content creators.

Paramount to Cut 3.5% of U.S. Workforce Amid Industry Disruption

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Paramount Global is set to lay off 3.5% of its U.S. workforce as part of ongoing efforts to adjust to sweeping changes in the media industry, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters. The job cuts, announced to employees on Tuesday morning, may eventually extend to some international staff, the memo from the office of Paramount’s three co-CEOs indicated.

This new round of layoffs follows a previous 15% staff reduction announced in August 2024. The moves come as Paramount, like many traditional media companies, faces mounting challenges due to the rapid shift away from cable television toward streaming platforms such as Netflix. The company’s leadership cited the broader “generational disruption” affecting the industry as millions of consumers continue to abandon pay-TV subscriptions.

“We are taking the hard, but necessary steps to further streamline our organization starting this week,” co-CEOs George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, and Brian Robbins stated in the memo.

As of December 31, 2024, Paramount employed approximately 18,600 people globally. CNBC first reported the latest job cuts on Tuesday.

The layoffs occur as Paramount is in the midst of attempting a major corporate merger. The company has proposed an $8.4 billion deal with Skydance Media, led by billionaire David Ellison. However, regulatory approval for the merger remains pending. Complicating matters is a $10 billion lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump against CBS News, part of Paramount Global, over allegations that a 2020 interview with then-vice president Kamala Harris was deceptively edited to her advantage.

Warner Bros Discovery to Split Streaming and Studios from Cable Networks in Major Corporate Restructuring

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Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) announced plans to divide into two separate publicly traded companies, separating its streaming and studio businesses from its declining cable television networks. This move aims to allow the streaming and studios unit—housing assets like Warner Bros, DC Studios, and HBO Max—to focus on growth without being weighed down by the struggling cable networks division that includes CNN, TNT Sports, and Bleacher Report.

The separation will be executed as a tax-free transaction expected to complete by mid-2026. CEO David Zaslav will lead the new streaming and studios company, while CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will head the networks business, which will retain up to a 20% stake in the streaming entity. The majority of WBD’s substantial $38 billion debt will remain with the cable networks company. To facilitate this, WBD secured a $17.5 billion bridge loan from J.P. Morgan.

The restructuring comes amid ongoing challenges for WBD, including heavy debt, subscriber losses in cable TV, and intense competition in streaming. Shares initially surged after the announcement but later retreated, reflecting investor concerns. Shareholder dissatisfaction was highlighted at the company’s recent annual meeting, where about 59% voted against executive pay packages.

Industry experts warn the split may not resolve WBD’s core issues and could complicate operations during the transition. Nonetheless, the move aligns with broader media trends, as companies like Comcast and Lionsgate also separate cable networks from content studios to sharpen focus and unlock shareholder value.

WBD’s streaming service, recently rebranded as HBO Max, currently has about 122 million subscribers and aims to exceed 150 million by 2026. Despite this, it remains behind competitors like Netflix and Disney+ in scale. Analysts predict continued consolidation in the cable networks space, with Comcast’s forthcoming spinoff of NBCUniversal cable networks and speculation that WBD’s networks could become acquisition targets.

The split underscores the shifting landscape of media consumption, where streaming growth contrasts with declining traditional TV viewership, forcing legacy companies to reorganize to stay competitive.