Screentime

Americans Are Watching Fewer New Shows, More Free TV

We analyzed several years of data to assess how our streaming habits have changed

Neal Mohan, chief executive officer of YouTube Inc., left, arrives for the morning session at the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

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By Lucas Shaw and Phil Kuntz

December 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM UTC

Good afternoon from somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. As we approach the end of the year, I just want to thank everyone for reading the newsletter. It’s been an eventful 12 months for the media, from the sale of Paramount and the imminent sale of Warner Bros. to the president’s barrage of attacks.

I am going to be taking next week off. I hope you all continue to have a good holiday and see you in 2026.