Netflix overtakes BBC as UK's top TV choice, Ofcom reports
Britons now name Netflix as their first choice for television, with 26% of viewers selecting the streaming service in 2025, according to Ofcom’s Media Nations report. The BBC follows closely at 25%, while ITV is preferred by 15% of the audience. Age data show 36% of 16‑24‑year‑olds favour Netflix versus 14% for the BBC, whereas 48% of those over 75 choose the BBC and only 5% choose Netflix.
YouTube usage on TV sets has doubled, reaching an average of 19 minutes per person per day, and total YouTube viewing across all devices rose to 41 minutes per day. About 70% of British households have subscription streaming services, a level that has plateaued after rapid growth during the pandemic. Traditional broadcaster viewing fell to 70% of the population watching at least 15 minutes per week, down from 73% in 2024 and 78% in 2022.
In parallel, Sky confirmed a £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV’s media and entertainment business, creating the largest commercial broadcaster in Britain. Major live events such as England’s World Cup semi‑final loss to Argentina drew a peak TV audience of 24 million across BBC platforms.
Entities: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) · ITV · Netflix · Ofcom · Sky
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 9 SOURCES] ITV was the first choice for 15% of UK viewers in 2025. (Ofcom)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Total YouTube viewing across all devices reached 41 minutes per person per day in 2025, up from 33 minutes in 2022. (Ofcom)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Average daily YouTube viewing on TV sets rose to 19 minutes per person in 2025, up from 9 minutes in 2022. (Ofcom)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sky agreed a £1.6 billion takeover of ITV’s media and entertainment business, creating Britain’s largest commercial broadcaster. (Sky/ITV announcement)
- [● 9 SOURCES] England’s World Cup semi‑final defeat by Argentina on July 15 attracted a peak audience of 24 million across BBC platforms. (Ofcom)
- [● 9 SOURCES] 26% of UK viewers named Netflix as their first choice for television in 2025. (Ofcom)
- [● 9 SOURCES] 25% of UK viewers named the BBC as their first choice for television in 2025. (Ofcom)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Around 70% of British homes have subscription streaming services in 2025, a figure that has plateaued. (Ofcom)