The Number of UK Residents Watching TV Has Dropped Massively in the Last Years
Back in the day, sitting in front of the TV and waiting for your favourite show to start was one of the most exciting things one could do. People would gather together to see the latest episode of a reality show or to watch a highly anticipated movie that will be shown on TV. Nonetheless, nowadays, things are slightly different.
At present, most individuals prefer to pay for services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video that feature the latest and most popular movies and TV series. Considering how many subscription streaming service customers there are, it is far from surprising that the number of people paying for linear TV is dropping every single year.
Why Is Linear TV in the UK Not Preferred Anymore?
It is expected that 2022 will be the year when an immense number of users in the United Kingdom will stop using linear TV services. That is far from surprising, considering that interest in broadcaster programming schedules is decreasing. Ever since 2017, experts have noticed a drastic drop in the number of households paying for TV providers, such as Virgin Media and Sky.
It is believed that the people who will remain faithful to the broadcast content will be those over the age of 45. The reason being is that they are less likely to make use of social media services. Additionally, adult people are used to watching TV shows on a predetermined schedule. Teenagers, however, are highly disinterested in conforming to a television programme.
According to many statements made by specialists, there is a high chance of a complete modification of modern TVs. Many assume that some of the devices that will appear on the market in the upcoming years will simply be smart TVs. In other words, buyers will only be able to watch TV shows or movies via a subscription streaming service, such as Netflix.
It is a well-known fact that now it is more likely to enter a home that lacks a TV rather than a computer or a laptop. The reason being is that thanks to streaming services that rely on nothing but broadband connection, people can watch anything they want via a phone, tablet, or laptop. Plus, the process is much more convenient since users are not restricted to watching only from their homes.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Switching to A Subscription Streaming Service
Even though the idea of watching whatever you like, no matter what your location is, sounds quite awesome, there are a few disadvantages associated with paying for streaming services. Nevertheless, we cannot deny that the perks are definitely greater in number, and they have certainly contributed to the drop in linear TV users in the UK.
Benefits of Paying for a Subscription Streaming Service
There are numerous subscription streaming services available for residents of the United Kingdom. All of them offer a wide variety of movies and TV shows, which is the main reason why these companies generate so much profit. The number of subscribers increases every single day, and that is not surprising at all.
In addition to the impressive diversity of things to watch, these services allow for simultaneous streams. In other words, you can share your account with a friend of yours or a family member, and you can watch TV shows at the same time without any problem. Nonetheless, each service has a predefined limit regarding the number of streams that can run at the same time.
Another major advantage of paying for a streaming service is that you won’t have to watch ads. Undeniably, this is one of the worst things associated with linear TV. You cannot skip them, and they run quite frequently. With NOW or another similar service, however, there are no such annoying interruptions.
And last but not least, in order to catch a user’s attention, many companies would offer a free period to new subscribers. It is quite possible to find a service that offers two or three months of free use to those who join the platform. After the end of the free trial, users will be charged automatically unless they cancel their subscription. Here are some of the best subscription streaming services available for Brits:
- Netflix
- Apple TV+
- NOW
- Amazon Prime Video
Disadvantages of Paying for a Subscription Streaming Service
Although the perks described in the previous paragraph are quite considerable, there are a few disadvantages associated with the use of paid streaming services that should be highlighted, as well. First and foremost, paying for such a service may affect your budget a lot more than sticking to linear TV. Therefore, it is essential to consider your budget before you give up on Sky, for example.
And secondly, being able to watch the latest TV shows throughout the entire day and night may seriously affect your well-being. We can all agree that there’s nothing better than snacking on some chips while watching a movie. However, if such situations become a daily thing, your physical health may deteriorate.
Additionally, spending your spare time on the settee instead of going out for a walk is not a good idea as well. Thus, we would advise you to limit your Netflix and chill time to a maximum of two hours a day. Otherwise, you may find it hard to concentrate on work and to find the motivation to complete your day-to-day tasks.
