Global streaming subscription revenues surpassed $150 billion for the first time in 2025, according to a new survey by Ampere Analysis, which highlights this as a “key milestone” for the subscription market. The research firm on Monday predicted that streaming subscription revenue will reach $202 billion by 2030, up 29 percent, “as streamers shift focus from subscriber growth to price increases and ad-supported levels.”
“While international expansion remains an important market driver, platforms are increasingly focusing on monetization through price increases and ad-supported tier rollouts, especially in mature markets,” Ampere emphasized in its latest report. “As subscriber numbers for ad-free services stabilize, hybrid subscription and advertising models play an increasingly important role in revenue growth.”
Global streaming subscription revenues jumped 14 percent in 2025 to a total of $157.1 billion. This equates to a tripling over the past five years from $50 billion in 2020. “The international expansion of global streaming services, the introduction of ad-supported tiers, and ongoing price increases across major platforms have contributed to this increase,” Ampere noted.
Including ad revenue, streaming services generated $177 billion in revenue worldwide in 2025, making ad revenue about $20 billion, Ampere said. The share of subscription operators’ total revenue from advertising levels has risen “rapidly” over the past five years, rising from less than 5 percent in 2020 to 28 percent in 2025, Ampere’s research highlighted.
“As adoption of ad tiers increases and platforms expand their ad loads, advertising is expected to become an increasingly important source of revenue, adding another $42 billion in annual revenue by 2030,” the company estimates.
The United States remained the largest driver of the streaming sector last year, accounting for 50 percent of global streaming subscription revenue in 2025, according to the research firm. “Netflix is the largest contributor to the US market, with its revenues rising 14 percent in 2025 after an across-the-board price increase at the beginning of the year,” Ampere explained. “In more crowded markets like North America and Western Europe, the next phase of expansion is increasingly driven by ad-tier subscriptions.”
“As the streaming market matures, the focus is no longer on pure subscriber growth but on extracting greater value from existing audiences,” concluded Lauren Liversidge, Senior Analyst at Ampere. “Improving pricing and the rise of ad-supported tiers are driving revenue growth, particularly in more competitive markets.”
