Observed Signal · Jul 10, 2026 · Market Research · Source: Cord Cutters News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Roku Channel Tops Free Streaming Survey
Cord Cutters News surveyed more than 1,000 readers about their favorite free ad-supported streaming services. The Roku Channel ranked first with 31.1% support, followed by Pluto TV at 24.2% and Tubi at 23.8%. The survey highlights concentration around a few well-resourced FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) platforms that benefit from studio licensing deals, device integration, and extensive catalogs. The article notes historical context: The Roku Channel launched in September 2017 from Roku Incorporated; Pluto TV was founded in 2013 and acquired by Viacom (now part of Paramount Global) in 2019; Tubi launched in 2014 and was acquired by Fox Corporation in 2020. Findings underscore implications for audience reach, ad inventory, and advertiser attention as free ad-supported services mature into mainstream options.
Survey highlights consumer preference concentration among major FAST/CTV platforms, signaling stable ad inventory and audience consolidation which matters to advertisers and media buyers but is not an industry-shifting structural event.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Cord Cutters News surveyed more than 1,000 readers on free ad-supported streaming services.
- The Roku Channel was named best by 31.1% of respondents, Pluto TV by 24.2%, and Tubi by 23.8%.
- 11.4% of respondents indicated they do not use any free ad-supported services; other services combined accounted for 0.5%.
- Pluto TV was founded in 2013 and acquired by Viacom in 2019; Pluto later became part of Paramount Global.
- Tubi entered the market in April 2014 and was acquired by Fox Corporation in 2020 for roughly $440 million.
Connected Companies & Entities
10 Entities mapped“Cord Cutters News recently surveyed more than 1,000 of its readers about their favorite free ad-supported streaming services....”
“Pluto TV originated in 2013 when it was founded in Los Angeles by a team that included Tom Ryan, Ilya Pozin, and Nick Grouf....”
“In 2019 the service was acquired by Viacom for approximately 340 million dollars, later becoming part of Paramount Global....”
“It began as a dedicated free channel available directly on Roku streaming devices and quickly grew by securing licensing agreements with maj...”
“Tubi entered the market in April 2014 after being founded in San Francisco....”
“The platform experienced steady user growth through its early years before being acquired by Fox Corporation in 2020 for roughly 440 million...”
“It began as a dedicated free channel available directly on Roku streaming devices and quickly grew by securing licensing agreements with maj...”
“It began as a dedicated free channel available directly on Roku streaming devices and quickly grew by securing licensing agreements with maj...”
“It began as a dedicated free channel available directly on Roku streaming devices and quickly grew by securing licensing agreements with maj...”
“It began as a dedicated free channel available directly on Roku streaming devices and quickly grew by securing licensing agreements with maj...”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Roku Channel Drives Roku's Shift to Ad-First Platform
The Roku Channel, launched in September 2017, has grown into the top free ad-supported streaming (FAST) service in the U.S., surpassing Tubi in November 2024 (Nielsen) and ranking among the five most-watched U.S. streaming services by mid-2025. Roku estimates the channel reaches 145 million people and reported The Roku Channel accounted for a record ~3% share of all U.S. television viewing by end-2025. Roku’s installed base exceeds 100 million streaming households. In Q1 2026 Roku reported $1.25 billion net revenue (up 22% YoY), with platform revenue of $1.13 billion (up 28%) representing roughly 90% of total revenue; devices revenue was $118 million (down 16%). Q1 2026 advertising revenue reached $613 million (up 27%) and subscription revenue $519 million (up 30%). The article links The Roku Channel’s preinstallation, home-screen placement, curated discovery and owned ad inventory to higher engagement, ad scale, and improved platform margins (platform gross margins ~51–52%).
Roku Channel Hits 3% Share of US TV Viewing
Nielsen’s The Gauge report shows The Roku Channel captured 3.0% of all U.S. television viewing in March 2026, up from 2.9% in February. The data highlights growth in free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) as viewers increasingly use ad-supported, non-subscription options. Competing FAST and streaming services reported March shares including Tubi at 2.2% (flat month-over-month) and Paramount (combined Pluto TV and Paramount+) at 2.2%, up from 2.1% in February. Streaming as a category continues to account for roughly 47–48% of total TV usage. Analysts attribute The Roku Channel’s gains to its integration across Roku devices and smart TVs, content mix (originals, licensed films, live news, niche channels), prominent placement in the Roku interface, and personalization features that drive engagement.
Cord Cutters Shift to Free FAST Streaming
A survey of more than 1,200 U.S. cord cutters shows a growing shift away from multiple paid streaming subscriptions toward free, ad-supported FAST services. Respondents reported smaller paid lineups — 53.1% pay for three or fewer services, 67.4% for four or fewer, and 78.8% for five or fewer — while 9% pay for no TV streaming services at all and 21% pay for one or fewer. The move toward free platforms such as Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel is driving FAST growth and prompting major media companies (reportedly including Disney) to consider ad-supported free tiers. The trend reflects subscription fatigue, cost sensitivity, and an increasing role for ad-supported monetization in streaming distribution and viewer discovery.
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