How much TV do Netflix viewers watch?

Peter Terlato 1 February 2017 NEWS

Less than one-fifth watch more than 3 hours per day.

New research shows around 5.8 million Australians, or one in four households, subscribe to streaming media service Netflix, with users watching less commercial television than those without subscriptions.

Roy Morgan Research's latest study shows almost one third of Aussies (29.5%) aged 14 and over have access to the popular subscription video on demand (SVOD) service.

These subscribers watch less commercial television than others but for many this was already the case, likely encouraging their uptake of Netflix.

Less than one-fifth of Netflix viewers (18%) still watch a heavy amount (more than 3 hours on a regular weekday) of commercial TV. The greatest proportion of subscribers (42%) watch a light amount (less than 2 hours per day) of commercial TV. One in five subscribers (20%) watch no commercial TV at all.

Among non-Netflix subscribers, more than one quarter (27%) are heavy watchers of commercial television, while one fifth (21%) watch 2-3 hours per day.

A small proportion (16%) watch no commercial TV through the week.

While heavy commercial television viewers remain least likely to have Netflix, subscriptions among this group grew more than 50% in 2016, quicker than any other viewing segment.

Almost 1.5 million Australians spent an estimated $257 million buying and legally downloading films and television shows in the 12 months to September 2016, according to the latest figures.

Wondering what’s new on Netflix and Stan next month? Find out which titles are hitting Australian screens.

Each week, View Finder rounds up the latest news in streaming TV and movies for Australians.