Global streaming subscription revenue surpassed $150 billion for the first time in 2025, with the number on track to hit $200 billion by 2030, according to new research from Ampere Analysis citing price increases and the rollout of ad-supported tiers.
The London-based research firm said global OTC revenue rose 14% last year to $157.1 billion. It’s tripled in five years from about $50 billion in 2020.
The U.S. reps the biggest chunk with 50% of the global 2025 total. Netflix is the largest contributor in the market Stateside, with revenues up by 14% in 2025 following an across-the-board price increase at the start of the year. The streamer hiked prices again last week across its three major tiers. It said the move reflects “improvements to our wide range of entertainment and the quality of our service.”
Meanwhile, share of total revenue from ad tiers has risen rapidly over the past five years, up from less than 5% in 2020 to 28% in 2025, Ampere said. Including advertising revenue, streaming services generated $177 billion globally last year. As adoption of ad tiers grows and platforms expand their ad loads, advertising is expected to add a further $42 billion in annual revenue by 2030.
“As the streaming market matures, the emphasis is no longer on pure subscriber growth but on extracting greater value from existing audiences. Price optimisation and the rise of ad-supported tiers are driving revenue growth, particularly in the most competitive markets,” said Ampere senior analyst Lauren Liversedge.
English (US) ·