UK online streaming statistics 2025

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This page is packed full of UK online streaming statistics, including the number of subscribers per streaming platform, the revenue they make and the viewing habits of their customers.

Written by Max Beckett, Broadband expert

Updated on 6 August 2025

UK online streaming statistics showcase how the reach of platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer has expanded over the last decade. After steadily growing in popularity throughout the 2010s, there was a substantial surge in subscribers as a result of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Then, for the first time, streaming services had to contend with falling subscriber numbers as UK households tightened their belts in the face of a cost-of-living crisis.

With this being such an interesting time in the history of online streaming, we felt it was the ideal opportunity to produce the definitive UK online streaming statistics report for 2025.

Top 10 UK online streaming statistics to know in 2025

Between 2015 and 2024, Subscription Video-on-Demand penetration in UK households increased by 240%, from a fifth (20%) to more than two-thirds (68%).
As of 2024, Netflix is the most-subscribed service, with nearly three-fifths (58%) of UK households paying for a subscription.
In terms of online visits, YouTube is the most popular, accounting for more than seven in 10 visits (71.98%), as of March 2024.
The average UK adult watches 4 hours and 31 minutes of content a day, with live TV racking up the greatest screen time at one hour and 49 minutes (2023).
Video-sharing platforms, like YouTube, Twitch, and Vimeo, constitute nearly a fifth (18.08%) of UK adults’ daily screen time, at 49 minutes (2023).
Those aged 25-34 stream the most SVoD content, averaging 65 minutes a day (2023).
Men make up the majority of the streaming population, at 53.3% (2023).
In April 2025, Twitch recorded that viewers streamed 732 million hours of content, equivalent to nearly 90,000 years.
In 2024, over 7.35 million users broadcast content on Twitch each month.
Esports streaming figures predict that there could be nearly 841 million esports viewers worldwide by the end of 2025.

UK online TV streaming industry statistics

Online streaming industry statistics highlight how much the sector has changed in a relatively short period. For example, back in 2014, just 4.2% of the UK population had a Netflix subscription, compared to nearly two-thirds (58%) of households by Q1 2024.

Similarly, around 1,200 UK households had an Amazon Prime Video subscription in 2014, equivalent to just 0.004% of households. By 2024, this figure had jumped to 45%, or roughly 12,780,000 households.

This section delves deeper into how the UK online streaming industry has changed over time, both in terms of subscriber numbers, market size, and average streaming revenue per user.

Growth of subscription video-on-demand in UK homes

Online video statistics from Ofcom show that between 2015 and 2024, the take-up of Subscription Video-on-Demand (SVoD) services increased by 230% in the space of just nine years, from a fifth (20%) of UK households to over two-thirds (68%).

The biggest increase in UK SVoD penetration came in 2020-21, when take-up rose by 12 percentage points, from just over half of all UK households (53%) to almost two-thirds (65%).

SVoD penetration of UK households by provider (2015–24)

A breakdown of SVoD penetration of UK households by provider (2015-23)

	Any SVoD	Netflix	Amazon Prime Video	Disney+	NOW	Apple TV+
2015	20%	16%	4%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2016	26%	22%	6%	N/A	N/A	N/A
2017	32%	25%	13%	N/A	4%	N/A
2018	39%	32%	17%	N/A	5%	N/A
2019	47%	40%	21%	N/A	6%	N/A
2020	53%	46%	28%	N/A	6%	N/A
2021	65%	59%	44%	17%	8%	N/A
2022	68%	60%	47%	23%	7%	6%
2023	66%	59%	45%	25%	9%	7%
2024	68%	58%	45%	26%	6%	8%

(Source: Ofcom)

The only year in which SVoD penetration fell was in 2023, when take-up dropped by two percentage points. In the same year, the number of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video users also fell by small margins (one and two percentage points, respectively).

Online streaming statistics reveal that Amazon Prime Video had the most impressive growth in subscriber numbers over the last decade. Between 2015 and 2024, the proportion of Amazon Prime Video subscribers increased more than tenfold (+1,025%) from 4% to 45%. Comparatively, Netflix’s penetration rate in the UK grew by 262.5%, from a sixth (16%) to nearly three-fifths (58%).

Despite only joining the online streaming market in 2021, the number of Disney+ subscribers has increased from less than a fifth (17%) to more than a quarter (26%) of UK households by 2024.

In the space of seven years (2017-23), NOW TV more than doubled its penetration rate from 4% to 9%.

Interested in a NOW TV subscription? Visit our guide on how to watch NOW TV.

On-demand TV streaming revenue in the UK

Between 2018-23, online streaming revenue in the UK more than doubled, increasing from $1.24 (£0.98) billion to $3.11 (£2.47) billion. Comparatively, the rate of increase is expected to slow over the coming years, rising by 48.6% by 2028.

UK online streaming revenue (2018–28)

The growth of pay-per-view TV has been far steadier. Between 2018-23, online streaming revenue increased by three-quarters (75%) from $0.75 (£0.59) billion to $1.29 (£1.02) billion. Forecasts suggest that this growth will slow down by 2028, with pay-per-view TV streaming revenue increasing by less than a third (30%) in the next five years.

The streaming revenue generated by video downloads hardly changed between 2018-23. After a brief decline in 2022, when the value dropped to $0.42 (£0.33) billion, it bounced back just 12 months later to $0.45 (£0.36) billion. Streaming revenue statistics suggest that this figure will flatline at $0.46 (£0.36) billion by 2028.

New online streaming subscriber statistics

Online streaming statistics show that between 2020-23, Amazon Prime Video led the way in terms of the number of new subscribers. With more than two-fifths (42.2%) of all new online streaming subscribers in Q1 2023, this was 33 percentage points ahead of the next highest (Disney+).

Share of new streaming subscriber statistics (2020–23)

A breakdown of UK online streaming revenue (2018-28)

In terms of the percentage of new subscribers, Netflix’s strongest quarter came in Q2 of 2020, when almost a fifth (18.9%) of new SVoD subscribers were signing up for the online streaming giant. By Q1 2023, this figure had steadily declined, with just under one in 10 (8.9%) new online streaming subscribers opting for Netflix.

Disney+ entered the market in 2020 and immediately picked up more than a fifth (22.6%) of all new SVoD subscribers for that quarter. Disney+ performed even stronger in 2021, attracting almost a quarter (23.2%) of all new online streaming subscribers for the year.

UK average TV streaming service revenue per user

Between 2017-23, the average online streaming revenue per user in the UK practically doubled, increasing by 97% in just six years. The majority of this growth came between 2017 and 2021, when streaming revenue per user increased by around two-thirds (+68.2%).

The largest increase in average streaming revenue per UK user came in 2018-19, with a 15.9% rise in that year alone.

Average streaming service revenue per user (2017–27)

Forecasts suggest the UK average streaming revenue per user will continue to increase by 2027, albeit at a slower rate than in previous years. Projections show a rise of over a tenth (11.8%) between 2023-27, with a nominal rise of 4.9% in the latter two years alone.

UK online streaming demographic statistics

UK video streaming statistics by age

Video streaming statistics in the UK tend to be dominated by those aged 45-54, who make up just under three in 10 (29.8%) of the UK streaming population. This is closely followed by the 35-44 age bracket, who account for just over a quarter (25.6%).

Percentage of people online streaming by age (2023)

A breakdown of the percentage of people online streaming by age

Conversely, those aged 18-24 are the least commonly represented group in the UK streaming population, with less than one in 10 (9.3%) coming from this age category. Just over one in six (17%) 55-64-year-olds in the UK stream videos online – almost double the percentage compared to those between 18-24.

UK video streaming statistics by gender

According to video streaming statistics, just over half (53.3%) of the UK streaming population are male.

Male vs female video streaming statistics in the UK (2023)

A breakdown of male vs female video streaming statistics in the UK

This is contrasted by 46.7% for females, representing a 6.6 percentage point difference between the two genders.

UK video streaming statistics by income

Video streaming statistics indicate a slight income disparity when it comes to online streaming. The majority of UK online streamers (36.8%) tend to come from high-income groups, compared to just over a quarter (27.3%) from the lowest.

Video streaming statistics in the UK by income group (2023)

A breakdown of video streaming statistics in the UK by income group

In total, just over a third (35.9%) of UK online streamers are from households with a medium income level.

UK online streaming viewer habits

Which is the biggest streaming service in the UK?

In terms of the number of visits, online streaming statistics reveal that YouTube is the UK’s most popular streaming service, accounting for more than seven out of every 10 (71.98%) visits.

UK’s most popular streaming websites by share of visits (March 2024)

This is followed by Netflix, which accounts for over one in 15 (6.89%) visits to online streaming websites, and means people in the UK are almost 950% more likely to use YouTube than Netflix when it comes to choosing an online streaming platform.

TV viewing habits for online streaming

Television viewing habits statistics reveal that almost half (45%) of UK streamers don’t mind watching a show, whether all the episodes have been released or not.

When broken down by age, older viewers (i.e. those over 55) are the least bothered in regard to whether the show has finished or not before watching it online, with just under half (49%) admitting this.

TV viewing habits and how long people wait to watch series after they appear on streaming services

Older viewers are also the most inclined not to wait for a show to finish before they start watching, with 16% saying they like to watch each season as it comes out.

Meanwhile, younger viewers are the most likely to wait for a show to finish before they start watching it. Around one in seven (14%) streamers aged 18-34 always wait for a show to finish before tuning in online, indicating a preference for ‘bingeing’ content.

Fibre broadband statistics reveal that over a quarter (26%) of UK households only watch TV online, with more than two-fifths (44%) subscribing to more than one streaming service.

Brand awareness of online streaming services in the UK

According to online streaming statistics linked to brand awareness, Netflix is the most recognised streaming service in the UK. Based on a 2023 survey, 96% of respondents had heard of Netflix, putting it two percentage points ahead of Amazon Prime Video and three ahead of Disney+ in third.

Brand awareness of popular streaming services

Streaming Service	Brand awareness
Netflix	96%
Amazon Prime Video	94%
Disney+	93%
YouTube Premium	91%
Google Play Store	88%
Apple TV+	84%
iTunes	84%
NOW TV	83%
Discovery+	78%
BritBox	74%
Microsoft Store	69%
PlayStation Store	68%
WOW (Sky Go)	67%
Rakuten TV	54%
HayU	51%
DAZN	33%
Mubi	22%
I don’t know any of these brands	1%

(Source: Statista)

Launched by BBC and ITV in 2017 as a rival to Netflix, BritBox was recognised by almost three-quarters (74%) of respondents from the survey.

At the other end of the scale, Mubi had the lowest brand awareness score from the 2023 survey, with only around a fifth (22%) having heard of this online streaming platform.

Incidentally, just 1% had never heard of any streaming services from the list, indicating that the UK population has a strong awareness of the different types of platforms on offer for online streaming.

As more TVs become smart, there is no need to watch programmes on a small screen anymore. Check out our guide on how to watch Netflix on your TV for more information.

UK screen time statistics

Average daily minutes of screen time in the UK across all devices

UK screen time statistics indicate that the average UK person typically spends almost a fifth (18.82%) of their day on a screen. Of these four hours and 31 minutes of screen time, average live TV viewing per day (one hour and 49 minutes) equates to only two-fifths (40.22%) of this amount.

UK screen time statistics by type of viewing (2023)

On average, people in the UK spend nearly three times as much time watching live TV as they do watching SVoD or Advertising-based Video-on-Demand (AVoD).

Behind live TV, the second most common vehicle for screen time is using video-sharing platforms. These sites, such as YouTube, Twitch, and Vimeo, take up almost a fifth (18.08%) of the average UK person’s daily screen time, at 49 minutes.

At the other end of the scale, DVD, Blu-ray, and VHS take up 0.37% of daily UK screen time statistics, indicating how rare these technologies now are in modern society for watching content.

Average daily minutes of screen time in the UK by age

TV viewing statistics from Ofcom indicate that adults aged between 65 and 74 watch the most content every day, with this age group racking up six hours and 19 minutes of screen time. Most of this viewing is spent on live TV (four hours).

UK screen time statistics by age and type of viewing (2023)

	Live TV	Recorded playback	BVoD	SVoD/AVoD	Video-sharing platforms	Other TV set usage	DVD/Blu-ray/VHS	Total
Individuals 4+	109	25	20	38	49	28	2	271
Children 4-15	25	7	11	42	74	27	1	187
16-24	20	6	11	43	93	28	2	203
25-34	35	13	24	65	63	37	0	237
35-44	59	19	25	52	46	33	1	235
45-54	115	30	25	38	39	29	2	278
55-64	173	41	28	28	31	27	1	329
65-74	240	50	24	18	21	25	1	379
75+	281	44	12	7	10	16	2	372

Source: Ofcom

Conversely, children aged between four and 15 have the lowest average screen time per day. At three hours and seven minutes, the majority of children spend their viewing time on video sharing platforms (an hour and 14 minutes).

Adults aged between 55 and 64 are the greatest consumers of Broadcaster Video-on-Demand (BVoD) content. With an average daily BVoD watch time of 28 minutes, this accounts for 8.52% of their total screen time.

Netflix statistics

Founded in 1997 as a DVD rental service, Netflix transitioned into an online streaming platform in 2007 and has dominated the online streaming industry ever since.

At the start of 2014, Netflix had fewer than three million subscribers (roughly 4.2% of the UK population). By 2023, this figure had risen more than fivefold, to 16.7 million users. This meant almost one in four (24.7%) UK households had a Netflix subscription at the start of 2024.

How many UK Netflix subscribers are there?

As of Q3 2023, Netflix subscriber numbers stood at 16.7 million (an increase of 46% from Q1 2019).

After a steady rise of 7.7% throughout 2019, the number of Netflix subscribers jumped by more than a third (35%) by the end of 2021, largely as a result of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, with more people forced to stay indoors.

UK Netflix subscriber numbers (2019–23)

A breakdown of UK screen time statistics by purpose

Netflix statistics show that Q2 2022 saw a slight dip in subscriber numbers, losing 120,000 users (or roughly 1% of its subscriber population) by the end of the year.

In Q1 2023, Netflix subscriber numbers dropped below 17 million for the first time since 2021, losing around 2.7% of its user base by the end of Q2.

If you’re one of the many streamers who are wrestling with the cost of living crisis, but are unsure how to cut short your contract, check out our how to save money on your streaming services page.

Netflix revenue statistics

According to Netflix revenue statistics, the amount of money generated globally by the streaming service increased by nearly nine-tenths (88%) between Q1 2019 and Q3 2023, from $4.52 billion to $8.54 billion, respectively.

Netflix revenue statistics (2019–23)

A breakdown of UK screen time statistics by age and type of viewing

Netflix revenue grew steadily throughout 2019, by an average of 6.4% per quarter. The beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 had a positive impact on Netflix's annual revenue figures, exceeding $7 billion by Q1 2021.

However, 2022 saw two consecutive quarters where revenue decreased, dropping by 0.5% in Q2 and a further 1% in Q3.

By 2023, the streaming service bounced back, recording a growth rate of +3.9% on 2022 figures.

Amazon Prime Video statistics

The Amazon Prime Video streaming service has changed multiple times since its inception in 2006. Originally launched as Amazon Unbox in the U.S., the online streaming platform adopted the Amazon Prime Video feature in 2012, meaning users now have access to a library containing over 31,000 titles.

How many Amazon Prime Video users are there in the UK?

According to Amazon Prime statistics, there were around 13 million Amazon Prime members in the UK as of Q3 2023. This figure is almost double (+118%) the number from 2019, when respective membership numbers stood at 5.96 million.

It’s worth noting that calculating exactly how many Amazon Prime Video users there are is difficult, as those who subscribe to Amazon Prime may do so for delivery of online shopping and not to stream programmes/films.

Number of Amazon Prime users (2019–23)

Q3 2020 saw the number of Amazon Prime users exceed 10 million for the first time – a rise of almost three-tenths (29%) in just six months. By Q2 2021, this figure had further increased by more than a fifth (+22%).

A notable decline in UK Amazon Prime user figures came in Q2 2022, when numbers dropped from a peak of 13.35 million to 12.76 million (a fall of 4.4% in just three months).

Between Q2 and Q3 2023, a rise of 400,000 subscribers saw Amazon Prime users reach 13 million for the first time since early 2022.

Disney Plus statistics

Disney+ was launched in November 2019 and rapidly grew to over 100 million global subscribers by 2021. It now boasts an extensive library from the likes of Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, and the Star Wars franchise.

How many Disney+ subscribers are there in the UK?

As of Q3 2023, around 7.6 million UK households had a Disney+ subscription. This represents a nearly three-fifths (58%) increase from Q2 2021 figures.

Number of UK Disney+ users (Q2 2021–Q3 2023)

A breakdown of the number of UK Disney Plus users

Since 2021, the number of Disney Plus users in the UK has generally increased quarter-on-quarter. In Q2 2021, around 4.8 million UK households had a Disney Plus subscription. Within a year, this had risen by almost two-fifths (+37.5%) to 6.62 million, and a further 9.9% by the end of 2022.

However, a small drop at the start of 2023 saw Disney Plus user figures decrease by around 140,000 members (-1.9%), before bouncing back in Q2 and Q3 of that year.

If you’re keen to be one of the 7.6 million households subscribing to Disney+ but aren’t sure how to get a subscription, visit our how to watch Disney Plus in the UK guide.

YouTube statistics

YouTube statistics reveal that it has rapidly become the world’s leading online video platform, boasting over two billion logged-in monthly users in 2024. Launched in 2005, YouTube now contains a library of more than 14 billion videos (and growing), with more than 500 hours of content uploaded to the site every minute.

What is the average time spent on YouTube per day?

According to Ofcom, the average time spent on YouTube per day in the UK is 23 minutes. However, YouTube video statistics from the Ofcom 2023 Media Nations report suggest a disparity in average viewing time between age groups.

The UK age group that typically spends the longest each day on YouTube is those aged 15-24. On average, those between 15-24 will spend more than three-quarters of an hour (48 minutes) each day browsing YouTube and watching videos.

Average time spent on YouTube per day by age group (March 2023)

A breakdown of the average time spent on YouTube per day by different UK age groups

Those between 15-24 watch 52% more YouTube content than their slightly older counterparts (25-34-year-olds), with the next longest average time spent on YouTube per day. Typically, those in this age bracket spend just under half an hour each day (28 minutes) streaming and watching videos on the platform.

The shortest average time spent on YouTube per day is typically among those aged 65 and above. On average, those in the oldest age category will spend 8 minutes a day on the platform – six times less than those aged 15-24.

Data from Ofcom’s 2024 edition of the Media Nations report indicates that YouTube screen time is increasingly spent on TV sets. Across 2023, a third (34%) of at-home YouTube viewing was done so using a TV, up from under three-tenths (29%) in 2022. This change in viewing style is most apparent in the 4-15 age group, with the figure rising from 36% to 45% over the same period.

YouTube content statistics

According to YouTube user statistics from Ofcom’s 2023 Media Nations report, the most common type of content viewed on YouTube is generally videos up to 15 minutes in length. More than half (53%) of YouTube users watch this type of content – around 8% more popular than videos longer than 15 minutes and 17% more than YouTube Shorts (i.e. those that are 60 seconds or less).

UK YouTube usage statistics by age group and type of content viewed (December 2022–February 2023)

A breakdown of UK YouTube usage statistics by type of content viewed across age groups

By contrast, the least common types of YouTube content viewed by UK users are programmes or films. Close to a third (32%) of those aged 13-17 watch these types of YouTube content – the highest recorded percentage across all UK age groups. However, the figure gradually decreases with age, down to just 5% of those aged 75+ who turn to YouTube to watch this type of content.

Those aged 18-24 are the only group from the study where videos longer than 15 minutes are the most commonly viewed type of YouTube content. Nearly seven-tenths (68%) of this age group opt for videos longer than 15 minutes, compared to almost two-thirds (65%) who prefer watching videos that are between 1-15 minutes in length.

Most common types of YouTube content - short videos

The most popular type of short video content on YouTube is ‘how-to’ videos. According to YouTube usage statistics, ‘how-to' videos are watched monthly by almost two-thirds (64%) of the UK population – just 1% more popular than news-related videos.

Genres viewed at least once a month (September 2022–March 2023)

Video Type	Percentage
‘How to’	64%
News	63%
Videos uploaded by the general public	59%
Videos uploaded by friends/family	54%
Music	54%
Videos/vlogs uploaded by social media influencers followed	48%
Videos from comedy programmes	45%
Videos from entertainment programmes	41%
Videos/vlogs uploaded by companies followed	39%
Sports including interviews	37%
Videos from chat shows	36%
Videos from drama programmes	30%
Clips from video games	28%

(Source: Ofcom)

YouTube user statistics show that short videos are the least popular type of content watched on YouTube. These tend to be clips from video games, with just over a quarter (28%) opting to view these, followed by less than a third (30%) who tend to watch videos from drama programmes.

Most common types of video content viewed on YouTube by 3-12-year-olds

UK child screen time statistics from Ofcom show that the most popular type of YouTube videos viewed by 3-12-year-olds are funny clips. Just under half (49%) of children from the study admitted to watching this type of content – a sevenfold increase from just 12 months earlier. This was followed by more than two-fifths (44%) of 3-12-year-olds who prefer to watch videos by YouTubers.

UK child screen time statistics based on the most common type of content (Q1 2023)

Type of video	Percentage of child screen time
Funny clips	49%
YouTubers	44%
Music videos	36%
Gamers	28%
Episodes	26%
Unboxing	15%
Movie trailers	15%
Tutorials	14%
Education	9%
Sports clips	8%
Nursery rhymes	7%
YouTube Live	6%
Challenge videos	6%
Vlogs	5%
Don’t watch	4%
360 videos	2%

(Source: Ofcom)

The least popular types of YouTube content for those aged 3-12 were 360 videos, with just 2% of children stating they watched this type of video on YouTube.

Twitch statistics

Founded in 2011 originally as a spin-off for Justin.tv, Twitch is a live streaming online platform that primarily focuses on video games.

Twitch streaming statistics indicate that, as of 2024, the UK is home to some 13.4 million Twitch users, accounting for 5.23% of the global Twitch population. Each week, an average of 2.6 million people tune into Twitch from around the world to stream content and play games across some 107,000 channels on offer.

In April 2025, Twitch users streamed 783 million hours of content, equivalent to 32,625,000 days or 89,383 years.

Average Twitch viewing statistics

According to Twitch viewer stats, there are an average of 2.38 million concurrent viewers using the platform so far in 2025. This is around 400,000 less than the peak of 2.78 million recorded in 2021.

Average number of concurrent Twitch viewers by year (2012–25)

breakdown of average Twitch viewing statistics by year

Between 2012-21, the average number of concurrent Twitch users experienced year-on-year growth, from 102,000 to 2.78 million. Since then, viewership figures have dipped each year, dropping by 400,000 between 2021 and 2024, and remaining stable so far in 2025.

Average number of Twitch concurrent channels

As of 2024, there were an average of 107,000 concurrent Twitch channels in existence – the highest recorded number in the platform's history.

A breakdown of the average number of Twitch channels by year

Area chart showing the average number of concurrent channels on Twitch (2012-25).

In 2012, just 2,200 concurrent channels existed on average for the year, which gradually rose year-on-year to 105,000 by 2021. These figures fluctuated between 2021-24, dipping by 12,500 in 2022-23, before rising again by 13,700 in 2024.

Average number of Twitch monthly broadcasters

Twitch streaming stats indicate that, as of 2024, an average of 7.35 million people were broadcasting on Twitch each month – around 1.11 million less than the peak of 2021 (8.46 million).

After its inception in 2011, some 300,000 people were broadcasting on average each month in 2012. This trebled the following year before breaking the one million mark in 2014 for the first time.

Average number of monthly Twitch broadcasters by year (2012-24)

Bar chart showing the average number of monthly broadcasters on Twitch (2012-24).

Year	Average number of monthly broadcasters
2012	300,000
2013	900,000
2014	1,500,000
2015	1,700,000
2016	*Data missing
2017	2,000,000
2018	3,390,000
2019	3,640,000
2020	6,900,000
2021	8,460,000
2022	7,630,000
2023	7,300,000
2024	7,350,000

Source: Twitch Tracker

Subsequent years saw year-on-year growth in the number of Twitch broadcasters (apart from 2016, when, unfortunately, no data was collected). The Covid-19 pandemic years were also significant for Twitch when the broadcast population almost doubled between 2019-20, up to 6.9 million people.

Between 2021-23 the number of Twitch broadcasters dropped by -13.71%, before rising by 0.68% between 2023-24.

Esports statistics

According to online gaming statistics, as of February 2024, there were 50,448 esports competitions and events taking place around the world, across 140 different online games.

In total, this involved some 238,657 matches between 40,342 teams and 61,557 esports players.

Esports market statistics

The global esports market was expected to generate a revenue of £3.41 billion in 2024. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1%, this figure is forecast to reach £4.52 billion by 2028.

As of 2024, around 11.7% of the world’s population is estimated to participate in the esports market, equating to almost 948 million people worldwide.

Esports growth statistics suggest that this figure could reach 13.7% of the global population by 2028.

Esports viewership statistics

In 2022, there were around 532.1 million esports viewers in the world. Just under half of these (49%) were esport enthusiasts, with the remaining 51% made up of occasional viewers.

Esports viewership statistics over time (2020–25)

Year	Esports enthusiasts	Occasional viewers
2020	215.2	220.5
2021	240	249.5
2022	261.2	270.9
2025	318.1	322.7

Source: Newzoo via Statista

Since 2020, the number of esport viewers has increased by more than a fifth (22%).

By the end of 2025, it’s predicted that this figure could increase further to 640.8 million esports watchers worldwide – a fifth (20%) more than the 2022 figures.

Top esports players of all time

As of April 2025, the highest-earning esports player in the world is N0tail (Johan Sundstein) of Denmark, who has earned over $7.18 million to date. This is nearly $700,000 more than JerAx (Jesse Vainikka) of Finland, as the second-highest earning esports player of all time ($6,486,623).

Top 10 esports players of all time by total winnings

Rank	Player ID	Player name	Age	Country	Total winnings	Peak viewers	Total matches	Total tournaments
1	N0tail	Johan Sundstein	31	Denmark	$7,184,163	1,965,328	332	66
2	JerAx	Jesse Vainikka	32	Finland	$6,486,623	1,965,328	262	54
3	Miposhka	Yaroslav Naidenov	27	Russia	$5,957,771	2,741,514	679	108
4	Ceb	Sébastien Debs	32	France	$5,949,442	1,965,328	426	84
5	Topson	Topias Taavitsainen	27	Finland	$5,898,810	1,965,328	355	64
6	Collapse	Magomed Khalilov	23	Russia	$5,670,111	2,741,514	505	70
7	Yatoro	Ilya Mulyarchuk	22	Ukraine	$5,662,736	2,741,514	452	62
8	Mira	Myroslav Kolpakov	25	Ukraine	$5,574,899	2,741,514	383	53
9	KuroKy	Kuro Takhasomi	32	Germany	$5,295,698	1,965,328	577	106
10	Miracle-	Amer Al-Barkawi	27	Jordan	$4,913,585	1,965,328	526	97

(Source: Escharts)

However, when averaged out per match, JerAx has a slightly better return than Sundstein ($24,758 vs $21,639).

Both of the top two players are currently free agents, though they both received their peak viewership count at The International in 2019, playing Dota 2 for Team OG.

In fact, all of the top 10 highest-earning esports players received their highest viewer count when playing Dota 2 for either Team OG (as stated, at The International in 2019) or Team Spirit (at The International in 2021).

UK online streaming FAQs

Is Netflix the biggest streaming service?

In 2024, nearly three-fifths (58%) of the adult UK population had a Netflix subscription.

Do people still watch TV?

Yes, although the watching of live TV is in decline. It remains a significant component of media consumption in the UK and overall is watched more than streaming services, accounting for two-fifths of adults’ average screen time per day (109 minutes). However, younger audiences, particularly those under 35, are watching considerably less television now than previous generations. Despite this, live major ceremonies, sports events and breaking news stories still hold an exceptionally strong appeal. It’s also worth remembering that live TV can be watched online, something that can disrupt viewing figures.

How many people in the UK use Twitch?

As of April 2025, Twitch has 2.38 million concurrent viewers, who rack up an average of 783 million hours of content (that’s equal to 89,383 years). The platform's popularity can be attributed to its diverse content, including video game streaming, music broadcasts, talk shows, and artwork, making it appealing to a wide range of audiences.

Which streaming service has the most original content?

As of 2024, Netflix has the most original content among streaming platforms. It leads the pack by a significant margin, having 1.7 times more original content than any other major paid streaming services combined. This large volume of original titles is a key factor in Netflix's continued popularity and success in the streaming industry market.

That said, our global streaming index states that Amazon Prime Video is the service that offers UK streamers the best value for money.

Check out our TV and film streaming service guide to get a better idea of what service is right for you.

How many people use streaming services in the UK?

As of Q1 2024, approximately 20.2 million homes in the UK were subscribed to at least one streaming service, which represented over two-thirds (68%) of all UK households.

Which broadband speed do I need for streaming?

Knowing which broadband speed you need for streaming can be a complicated matter. The broadband speed you need for streaming depends on the resolution you wish to stream in. Standard definition, a minimum of 3 Mbps is recommended for streaming in standard definition. For high definition, you’ll need between 5-8 Mbps, whilst for 4K, you’ll need at least 25 Mbps.

This is easier to ascertain in some parts of the country than others, our UK mobile network speed statistics show that in Great Yarmouth, the average speed is just 18.88 Mbps.

Something that can ensure a better quality streaming experience is getting the best media streaming device you can find.

UK online streaming glossary

BVoD (Broadcaster Video on Demand)

BVoD, or Broadcaster Video on Demand, refers to a digital service offered by traditional TV broadcasters, allowing viewers to watch previously aired content online at their convenience. Unlike subscription-based models like SVoD, BVoD is typically free and ad-supported, featuring content from a specific broadcaster’s library. These are the platforms to visit if you are not sure how to watch catch-up TV online. Examples include BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Recorded playback

Recorded playback is a feature that allows viewers to record live TV broadcasts to watch later at their convenience. This service, often included in digital TV packages or available through digital video recorders (DVRs), enables users to schedule recordings of shows, series or movies. Recorded playback offers the flexibility to pause, rewind and fast-forward through recorded content.

SVoD (Subscription Video on Demand)

SVoD, or Subscription Video on Demand, is a digital model where users pay a recurring fee for unlimited access to a diverse range of video content, such as Netflix and Disney Plus. This convenient model offers extensive programs and movies on multiple devices with personalised viewing and no ads.