Are You Noticing More Ads on Your Streaming Platforms?

As streaming services continue to expand their ad-supported options, some viewers might be wondering if they’re trading cable commercials for streaming ones. The good news? Even with ad growth, streaming platforms are still far lighter on ad time compared to traditional TV.

Netflix and Prime Video: Ads Per Hour Still Low

New data shows that Netflix, for example, airs an average of about 3.78 ads per hour during its original shows. Licensed content on Netflix sees slightly fewer ads, at around 3.33 per hour.

Amazon Prime Video, on the other hand, includes more advertising, averaging about 10.4 ads per hour for its originals and 9.8 for licensed programming. While that may sound high, these ads typically run for about 30 seconds each, which means Netflix clocks in at around two minutes of ads per hour, and Prime Video at about five minutes.

Traditional TV Still Dominates in Ad Load

To put things into perspective, standard broadcast and cable TV channels air roughly 15 minutes of commercials per hour, with an additional 2–3 minutes promoting other shows or network events. Some cable networks push this even further, reaching up to 20 minutes of total interruptions per hour. So even with more ads showing up on streaming, they’re still nowhere near the overload of linear television.

Why Viewers Still Prefer Streaming

Even as ads creep into more streaming options, most viewers remain focused on what they’re spending each month, not how many commercials they’re seeing. With many popular platforms priced between $6 and $9 a month, streaming still offers a more budget-friendly option compared to traditional pay-TV packages.

Many consumers are actively trying to trim their overall TV costs. This means cutting mid-tier cable channels bundled in legacy cable or satellite plans and being picky about which streaming platforms they’ll pay for.

Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Keeps Growing

Services like Tubi, Pluto TV, and The Roku Channel continue to gain traction. These free platforms are entirely supported by ads, but because there’s no subscription cost, viewers are generally more accepting of the trade-off.

The takeaway? Even though streaming ads are increasing, platforms still offer far fewer interruptions than cable. For now, “limited ad-supported” streaming remains a sweet spot for both content providers and cost-conscious viewers.

Cate Bender, the author, is Project Coordinator of Marketing Keys