The most popular AVOD services
Larger services have seen consistent subscriber increases in recent years. For example, Pluto TV that is operated by U.S.-based Paramount Global grew its userbase by around 20 million between 2021 and 2022 alone, whilst Tubi drew in 31 million monthly active users worldwide between summer 2019 and early 2022. Roku is also going from strength to strength, having more than tripled its number of MAUs in five years. Additionally, several other video streaming services, such as Netflix and Disney+, have recently launched their own ad-supported tiers in order to respond to this heightened level of engagement.AVOD vs. SVOD
Although ad-supported and subscription-based streaming services are not necessarily in competition with one another, each model appeals to different audiences, with AVOD viewers tending to be older and on a lower income than SVOD users. The sheer amount of content on AVOD services is also an appealing prospect for potential and current users. While SVOD content catalogs have in theory a higher concentration of the latest blockbusters and in-demand TV shows, as well as own productions, the growth of AVOD content is mostly driven by older licensed TV series and movies. However, main ad-supported streaming providers, such as Roku and Tubi, have also released new originals lately. For consumers unwilling to financially commit to SVOD and who prefer larger content libraries, AVOD appears to be a good option. With the number of AVOD viewers increasing at a faster pace than SVOD, advertising-based streaming could have a bright future.
