Number of pay TV service users by service in Australia 2020
Disney Plus enjoyed significant success in terms of individual subscribers in Australia during its initial launch period, attracting nearly three million subscribers in late 2020 and nearly equalling Amazon Prime subscriber numbers. Elsewhere, Netflix had 14.17 million subscribers and Foxtel had 7.75 million. Unsurprisingly, the coronavirus pandemic boosted subscriber numbers to all services during 2020.
Multiple subscriptions becoming more popular
More and more Australian adults are subscribing to multiple video streaming services. In 2019, a survey revealed that 3.46 million adults were subscribed to both Netflix and Stan, and a similar number had Netflix and Foxtel accounts. Industry newcomer Disney Plus was most often combined with Netflix; 1.86 million adults had subscriptions to both services. Netflix remains Australia’s most popular video streaming service, with 11.26 million households having a subscription to the service in 2019. By comparison, Foxtel (including the Kayo sports service) had 4.94 million households subscribed, and Stan had 2.61 million.
Video streaming consumption
Television consumption is shifting further away from traditional network television in Australia. A 2020 survey revealed that 51 percent of respondents thought it was more likely that they would watch TV from a streaming service than from traditional TV channels. Over the course of an average week in the first quarter of 2018, 40 percent of Australians said they had used Netflix. This is more than double the average weekly use of Foxtel services; 16 percent of respondents to the same survey said they used either Foxtel Play, Foxtel Go or Foxtel Now in an average week.
Multiple subscriptions becoming more popular
More and more Australian adults are subscribing to multiple video streaming services. In 2019, a survey revealed that 3.46 million adults were subscribed to both Netflix and Stan, and a similar number had Netflix and Foxtel accounts. Industry newcomer Disney Plus was most often combined with Netflix; 1.86 million adults had subscriptions to both services. Netflix remains Australia’s most popular video streaming service, with 11.26 million households having a subscription to the service in 2019. By comparison, Foxtel (including the Kayo sports service) had 4.94 million households subscribed, and Stan had 2.61 million.
Video streaming consumption
Television consumption is shifting further away from traditional network television in Australia. A 2020 survey revealed that 51 percent of respondents thought it was more likely that they would watch TV from a streaming service than from traditional TV channels. Over the course of an average week in the first quarter of 2018, 40 percent of Australians said they had used Netflix. This is more than double the average weekly use of Foxtel services; 16 percent of respondents to the same survey said they used either Foxtel Play, Foxtel Go or Foxtel Now in an average week.
