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This report provides a detailed analysis of the video streaming ecosystem in Canada. Covering a range of areas including consumer behaviour, device usage and market trends, this report throws light…
Canada
Leisure and Entertainment
Technology
simple
Canada Streaming Video Market Report 2024
This report provides a detailed analysis of the video streaming ecosystem in Canada. Covering a range of areas including consumer behaviour, device usage and market trends, this report throws light on the dominance of Netflix in the Canadian market, the popularity of smartphones and Smart TVs for streaming and the burgeoning trend of live-streamed content among younger viewers.
Free platforms have the opportunity for conversion
Brands need to prioritize diversity and inclusion
The Market
Market context
Economic challenges and streaming fatigue present barriers for video streaming brands
Market drivers
Costs remain elevated for Canadians
Graph 1: Consumer Price Index, 2020-24
August 2024 CPI eases to 2.0% amid Gasoline price drop; implications for streaming services noted
Inflation continues to be a primary concern for Canadians across all age groups, but it is particularly troubling for older Canadians
Graph 2: top three concerns over the next six months (% any rank), 2024
Canadians' higher savings rates persist post pandemic amid inflation and economic uncertainty
Graph 3: household savings rate, 2019-24
Canada's demographic shift: the growing importance of genuine diversity in marketing and media
Graph 4: proportion of visible minority in Canada, 1981-2036 (projected)
Canada's aging population: brands must adapt engagement strategies for growing elderly demographic
Graph 5: population aged 0-14 and 65+ (2000-40, projected)
Consumer Insights
Streaming devices
The vast majority of consumers are streaming video via smartphone
Graph 6: devices used to stream video, 2024
Streaming devices and second screen usage
Niche streaming devices are used more commonly by men
Graph 7: devices used to stream video (select), by gender, 2024
Age also plays a role in how consumers stream video
Graph 8: devices used to stream video, by age, 2024
Black and South Asian consumers are more likely to utilize smartphones and laptops to stream video
Graph 9: devices used to stream video (select), by race, 2024
Consumers are more likely to utilize Smart TVs for paid video streaming services
Graph 10: devices currently used to stream video, by paid vs free streaming, 2024
Amazon promoted the speed of its specific streaming devices across social media
Paid streaming services
A significant portion of the population are active on paid streaming platforms
Paid streaming consumers are spending 13 hours a week consuming content
Netflix dominates paid streaming video market share
Graph 11: paid streaming video service used in the past three months, 2024
Younger consumers prefer Netflix, Disney+ and Youtube Premium
Graph 12: paid streaming service used in the past three months, by age, 2024
Black and South Asian consumers have different paid content consumption habits when compared to consumers overall
Graph 13: paid video streaming services used in the past thee months (select), by race, 2024
Brands that centre and promote diverse content will find success in Canada moving forward
Newer Canadians are significantly more likely to be subscribed to YouTube Premium and Netflix
Graph 14: streaming services used in the past three months, newer Canadians vs overall, 2024
Mothers and fathers have different viewing habits
Graph 15: paid streaming service used in in the past three months, by parental status, 2024
LGBTQ+ consumers have clear platform preferences
Graph 16: paid streaming services used in the past three months, LGBTQ+ consumers vs overall, 2024
Some consumers have clear criticisms of paid streaming services, affecting engagement and usage
Graph 17: attitudes towards streaming services (% agree), by age, 2024
Free streaming services
Free video hosting sees similar usage to paid video hosting
Free video streaming platforms need to target younger viewers and diverse audiences for maximum streaming engagement
Younger consumers are significantly more likely to prefer live streamed content over scripted shows
YouTube dominates the video streaming usage in Canada
Graph 18: free video streaming services used in the past three months, 2024
Significantly more younger consumers are engaging with the majority of free video platforms
Graph 19: "top" free video streaming services used in the past three months, by age, 2024
Younger consumers dominate activity on tiertary streaming sites
Graph 20: "other" free video streaming services used in the past three months, by age, 2024
Despite young women more likely to have used YouTube over the past three months, younger men are more avid daily users
Graph 21: daily social media usage, those 18-34 by gender, 2024
There is a clear opportunity for YouTube to convert unpaid users
Graph 22: YouTube vs YouTube Premium used in the past three months, by age, 2024
Due to the nature of many free video-hosting sites, many lose out on revenue due to support for individual content creators
Graph 23: "I will purchase a paid subscription to a particular streamer or YouTuber if I enjoy their content" (% agree), by age and gender, 2024
Having diverse content creators on a platform can be very beneficial for streaming brands
Graph 24: Canada, "I will purchase a paid subscription to a particular streamer or YouTuber if I enjoy their content", Black and South Asian consumers vs overall, 2024
Attitudes towards content
Content is king for consumers
For the most part, Netflix is winning the public perception war over content
Graph 25: streaming service content attributes, 2024
Netflix leads with most content associations
Among its many strengths, Netflix stands out for its content variety and original film library
Graph 26: content-related attributes, by streamer, 2024
Men over the age are significantly more likely to feel that Amazon Prime has high quality content
Graph 27: high quality content attributes for Amazon Prime, by age and gender, 2024
With the importance of content to streaming business models, brands should worry about perceptions of declining quality
Netflix has recently introduced gaming, providing a use for the service once video content is exhausted
Streaming brands reach relative parity in reality and guilty pleasure content
Graph 28: TV content-related attributes, by streamer, 2024
In line with declining perceptions, poorly-implemented adaptations can also do lasting brand damage
Graph 29: for my favourite IPs (eg video game or movie franchises), I would prefer no screen adaptation over a bad adaptation (% agree), by age and gender, 2024
Women have specific content expectations from Netflix
Graph 30: original episodic TV shows as an attribute for Disney+, by age and gender, 2024
Graph 31: Netflix content attributes, by age and gender, 2024
Promoting content is just as important as hosting it
Disney+ pulls ahead on family-friendly and kids content
Graph 32: family-related attributed, by streamers, 2024
Mothers are significantly more likely to feel that Disney+ is good for kids
Graph 33: family and kid content attributes for Disney+, moms vs dads, 2024
Spotlight: attitudes towards ads
Consumers primarily associate ad-free content with Netflix
Nearly all consumers don't mind ads on free platforms, but significantly less are willing to pay more to avoid them
Graph 34: attitudes towards ads in streaming video (% agree), 2024
Disney+ engages directly with its social audience to promote its ad-free tiers
Some women are more likely to be willing to pay less for an ad-supported subscription tier
Graph 35: "I would pay a lower price for a subscription tier that included advertisements" (% agree), by age and gender, 2024
Conversely, younger men are significantly more likely to pay more for a subscription tier without ads
Graph 36: "I would pay more for a subscription tier without advertisements" (% agree), by age and gender, 2024
Black and South Asian consumers are also more likely to pay more for ad-free tiers
Graph 37: "I would pay more for a subscription tier without advertisements" (% agree), Black and South Asian consumers vs overall, 2024
Older consumers are more likely to pay attention to longer ads
Graph 38: "I usually pay more attention to shorter ads than longer ads when streaming video" (% agree), by age, 2024
Spotlight: diversity and inclusion
Netflix stands out to Canadian consumers as the best platform for diverse, inclusive and foreign content
Graph 39: diverse and foreign content attributes, by streamers, 2024
Younger consumers are typically more keyed in to who has diverse and inclusive content
Graph 40: diverse and inclusive content associations by brand, by age, 2024
Younger consumers are also typically more keyed into foreign content on videos streaming services
Graph 41: foreign content attributes, by brand and age, 2024
Black Canadians are more likely to associate platforms with diverse and inclusive content
Graph 42: diverse and inclusive content attributes, by brand and race, 2024
A sizeable minority of consumers want to see themselves represented in media
Graph 43: "I prefer watching content with actors/influencers that look like me" (% agree), by age, 2024
However, brands need to be careful not to promote stereotypes or stir controversy
Graph 44: "I would cancel my subscription if a streaming service or influencer hosted offensive content" (% agree), by age and gender, 2024
Competitive strategies
Launch activity and innovation
Crave shows a clear dedication to Canadian content
Brands are increasingly adding interactive viewing experiences
Netflix implemented an Indigenous storytelling initiative
Disney+ implements AR features
Twitch rolls out new community building tools
Subscription managers can help consumers take back control of their wallets, so brands need to work on engagement
Marketing and advertising
Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are the most widely utilized platforms on a daily basis
Graph 45: daily social media usage, by age, 2024
Video streaming brands are finding high engagement on TikTok
Cross-channel promotion can get consumers engaged on multiple platforms
Content promotions are common for streaming services
Content marketing and influencers: controversy and clicks
This report provides a detailed analysis of the video streaming ecosystem in Canada. Covering a range of areas including consumer behaviour, device usage and market trends, this report throws light on the dominance of Netflix in the Canadian market, the popularity of smartphones and Smart TVs for streaming and the burgeoning trend of live-streamed content among younger viewers. It also discusses the challenges faced by the streaming industry and outlines opportunities to attract and retain subscribers with compelling content and effective marketing strategies.
The report contains strategic insights into major streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Netflix, and examines significant challenges like streaming fatigue and economic constraints. Demographic shifts and the importance of diversity and inclusivity in marketing and media are key themes.
This report looks at the following areas:
Consumer usage of paid and free streaming service platforms
Devices used to stream video
Content associations with popular streaming brands
Hours spent watching paid and free streaming services
General attitudes towards ads on streaming services
Netflix thrives, despite industry challenges like streaming fatigue and economic concerns. YouTube leads in free platforms. For success, brands must target Canada's diverse, evolving audience with quality, inclusive content.
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