Canadians love to be entertained. Whether tuning into our favourite TV show, watching a movie, listening to music or playing the trendiest video game, we are a nation that loves to see, watch and experience the latest and best on-demand home entertainment options.
While some Canadians continue to download media, most now use on-demand services to play games, listen to music, get the news or watch the latest movie or TV show. But at what cost?
To appreciate what’s popular — and at what cost — here is a snapshot of streaming statistics, a review of what’s popular in video and music streaming services, and with an overview of the cost for these on-demand entertainment services.
According to industry projections, the use of on-demand services continues to grow, and by 2027, the number of global streaming service subscriptions will reach 1.7 billion, up from 1.2 billion in 2021.(1)
In Canada, the number of households with streaming services is expected to grow over the next half-decade. In 2017, just over half (57%) of households used at least one on-demand streaming service. By 2023, just over 123% of households will use an on-demand streaming service, according to a DigitalTVResearch report.(2) This increase reflects not just the number of households choosing to subscribe to on-demand services but an increase in the number of subscription services in each Canadian household.
$201.84— Average USD revenue earned from each Canadian streaming subscriber in 2023 (3)
22% — Canadians paid for a music streaming service in 2022 (up from 10% in 2019)(4)
11 — Average number of hours a Canadian adult spends each week streaming on any device(5)
21 — Average number of hours a Canadian adult spends watching TV or video content each week(6)
45% — Canadians subscribe to Netflix making it the #1 streaming service in Canada in 2022 (7)
46% — Canadians own a smart TV (up from 28% in 2019)(8)
31% — Canadians use YouTube as music streaming service (9)
At one point, CableTV was the only kid on the block. The advantage of CableTV was that it was the jack-of-all-trades — it offered a bit of everything to everyone. Now, with streaming services and access to Canadian, US and international on-demand services, cable’s broad reach is starting to shrink. But it’s not completely gone.
According to studies from Vividata, a Toronto-based not-for-profit industry organization, where more than 35,000 Canadians are surveyed on their cable and streaming use, Canadians are choosing streaming services over cable but not abandoning regular TV just yet.
In their 2021 study, 65% of Canadian adults preferred watching cable TV, while 61% preferred streaming their entertainment. (Multiple viewing options were allowed). The updated Vividata 2022 report shows that 56% of Canadians regularly watch cable TV, compared to 68% of Canadians who regularly watch streaming services.
Despite reports of declining earnings(10) and a drop in the number of subscribers, there still appears to be room for revenue growth in the streaming services market.
In Canada, revenue in the video streaming segment reached $476 million in 2020. According to Statista, projected revenue growth was estimated at a rate of 8.9% per year. Based on these numbers, this works out to an average revenue of $67 per user.(11)
However, pandemic restrictions altered this landscape. Now, projections estimate that the share of households in Canada with at least one subscription to a streaming service will go from 57% in 2017 to 123% by 2023—reflecting a larger percentage of the Canadian population opting for on-demand streaming and a larger number of subscribers electing for more than one streaming service. As a result, projected annual revenue now estimates that the average revenue is closer to $157 per user in 2022.
However, the growth of music streaming services, online gaming and internet TV could be hampered due to inconsistent access to high-speed internet service within Canada.
Only Canadians with access to internet connections with high download speeds will get completely uninterrupted use of streaming services, such as Netflix, Crave and Amazon Prime. (Take the Finder: Internet Speed Test to find out.)
When comparing year-over-year search demand, a pattern of interest and demand begins to emerge.
For instance, the search demand for nine streaming sites showed that from April 2019 to April 2020, showed that all but one on-demand service experienced an increase in interest for their services.
Amazon Prime Video led with 179% increase in unique visits to their home page, followed by sports-focused fuboTV at 91% and documentary platform CuriosityStream at 86%.
During the early days of the pandemic in 2020, the streaming services that saw the biggest increases in interest were Sundance Now (42%), Netflix (33%), Acorn TV (29%) and Disney Plus (28%) – based on user traffic between February and March 2020.
However, the three online streaming services with the largest traffic increase were:
Netflix continues to dominate streaming service subscriptions in Canada. The global streaming service currently offers just under 5,500 titles — shows and movies that Canadians can select and watch.
Believe it or not, this makes Netflix Canada one of the most extensive content libraries in the world. Based on the sheer volume of movies and TV shows, Netflix Canada comes in at No. 3, trailing behind USA and Japan — with Japan being the surprise winner, with 6,032 individual titles – 10% more than Canada’s 5,460 titles. Put another way, 96% of countries that offer Netflix have smaller content libraries than Netflix Canada.
| Rank | Country | No. of movies | Compared to Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 4,747 | 19% |
| 2 | United States of America | 3,999 | 0% |
| 3 | Canada | 3,998 | 0% |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 3,621 | -9% |
| 5 | Ireland | 3,595 | -10% |
| 6 | India | 3,342 | -16% |
| 7 | Australia | 3,270 | -18% |
| 8 | Mexico | 3,163 | -21% |
| 9 | Colombia | 3,156 | -21% |
| 10 | New Zealand | 3,146 | -21% |
| 11 | Venezuela | 3,144 | -21% |
| 12 | Luxembourg | 3,126 | -22% |
| 13 | Pakistan | 3,103 | -22% |
| 14 | Uruguay | 3,096 | -23% |
| 15 | Peru | 3,094 | -23% |
| 16 | Guatemala | 3,093 | -23% |
| 17 | Costa Rica | 3,091 | -23% |
| 18 | Chile | 3,054 | -24% |
| 19 | Bangladesh | 3,029 | -24% |
| 20 | Belgium | 3,029 | -24% |
| 21 | Brazil | 2,993 | -25% |
| 22 | Nepal | 2,985 | -25% |
| 23 | Malta | 2,944 | -26% |
| 24 | Czech Republic | 2,663 | -33% |
| 25 | Slovakia | 2,662 | -33% |
| 26 | Hungary | 2,636 | -34% |
| 27 | Philippines | 2,634 | -34% |
| 28 | Malaysia | 2,628 | -34% |
| 29 | Zimbabwe | 2,623 | -34% |
| 30 | Slovenia | 2,618 | -35% |
| 31 | Croatia | 2,617 | -35% |
| 32 | Korea | 2,617 | -35% |
| 33 | Kenya | 2,609 | -35% |
| 34 | Ukraine | 2,601 | -35% |
| 35 | Switzerland | 2,562 | -36% |
| 36 | Zambia | 2,547 | -36% |
| 37 | Nigeria | 2,544 | -36% |
| 38 | Latvia | 2,515 | -37% |
| 39 | Denmark | 2,505 | -37% |
| 40 | Sweden | 2,492 | -38% |
| 41 | Norway | 2,491 | -38% |
| 42 | Finland | 2,419 | -39% |
| 43 | Russia | 2,369 | -41% |
| 44 | South Africa | 2,369 | -41% |
| 45 | Thailand | 2,345 | -41% |
| 46 | France | 2,319 | -42% |
| 47 | Vietnam | 2,258 | -44% |
| 48 | Germany | 2,240 | -44% |
| 49 | Romania | 2,225 | -44% |
| 50 | Greece | 2,221 | -44% |
| 51 | Singapore | 2,218 | -45% |
| 52 | Austria | 2,198 | -45% |
| 53 | Spain | 2,153 | -46% |
| 54 | Netherlands | 2,135 | -47% |
| 55 | Poland | 2,062 | -48% |
| 56 | Bahrain | 2,020 | -49% |
| 57 | Bolivia | 2,020 | -49% |
| 58 | Jordan | 2,020 | -49% |
| 59 | Saudi Arabia | 2,020 | -49% |
| 60 | United Arab Emirates | 2,020 | -49% |
| 61 | Tunisia | 2,002 | -50% |
| 62 | Algeria | 1,996 | -50% |
| 63 | Turkey | 1,990 | -50% |
| 64 | Morocco | 1,988 | -50% |
| 65 | Iraq | 1,967 | -51% |
| 66 | Egypt | 1,953 | -51% |
| 67 | Lebanon | 1,938 | -52% |
| 68 | Hong Kong | 1,935 | -52% |
| 69 | Taiwan | 1,935 | -52% |
| 70 | Qatar | 1,931 | -52% |
| 71 | Kuwait | 1,916 | -52% |
| 72 | Portugal | 1,794 | -55% |
| 73 | Indonesia | 1,305 | -67% |
As for 2023, the nation with the largest number of TV show titles to stream on Netflix is America with 1,610, followed by the UK, with 1,487, and Canada with 1,462 shows on offer. Indonesia has the least amount of TV shows on Netflix with a count of 281.
While Hollywood and Bollywood tend to dominate the box office, more people are starting to tune into movies filmed in Canada. And a few of these movies are Netflix originals.
For instance, in 2020, the streaming service released the sequel to the rom-com, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Filmed in Vancouver, BC, the sequel — To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You — a film that follows the budding romance of the two main characters, Lara Jean and Peter.
A year earlier, Netflix Canada released Always By My Maybe, another rom-com movie that was filmed in Vancouver, BC, was released to critical praise for its more realistic portrayal of Asian-American relationships.
In addition to these Netflix-original movies, the streaming service also offers non-Netflix-produced movies that were filmed in Canada, including:
The cost of virtually all expenses paid by Canadians has gone up over the last year. Inflation swept the globe, and Canadians were left tackling the rising cost of living.
For many Canadians, this meant looking for ways to stretch the dollar or cut costs. In the recent Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q2, 73% of Canadians confessed to spending more than they saved each month. Asked where they’d cut costs, and the top three responses were:
Less than a quarter (23%) were willing to trim cable and streaming services to cut back on monthly spending. Turns out more than half (54%) are keeping Netflix, despite rising costs when it comes to streaming service subscriptions. Half of current Amazon Prime Video subscribers (50%) would keep paying for the on-demand streaming service, while another 41% would keep Disney+ (multiple responses allowed).
To find savings, the top three streaming services Canadians are considering cancelling over the next three months (multiple responses allowed) included:
The shift to streaming appears to have begun after Netflix launched in Canada just over a decade ago. It’s no surprise, then, that the on-demand movie and entertainment service tops the list of most popular streaming services in Canada, with an estimated 45% market share.
However, new contenders in the on-demand space are certainly vying for subscription dollars.
One of the strongest competitors in this space is Amazon Prime Video. This on-demand service was first introduced to Prime members as a bonus to their monthly Amazon priority shipping subscription.
In recent years, Amazon has been upping its game and featuring award-winning original content, which may be part of why it now captures approximately 25% of the market share in Canada.
Another popular streaming service is Apple TV Plus. Launched in 2019, this streaming service not only gave Apple fans their own method for on-demand entertainment but also their commitment to original content, which means it’s one of the few streaming platforms to launch as a direct competitor to large, traditional production houses. Check out our Apple TV Plus guide.
Finally, the family-focused Disney brand also threw its hat into the ring when it launched Disney Plus in 2019. Since its launch, the on-demand streaming channel has converted many families into streaming households. Not only does Disney Plus feature all the familiar classics but the latest from smash-hit production companies like Pixar, Marvel Universe and the Star Wars franchise. Check out our Disney Plus guide.
Between 2019 and 2022, the use of paid music streaming services more than doubled in Canada, according to data collected by Vividata, with 10% of Canadians paying for music streaming services in 2019 compared to 22% in 2022.(12)
While paid services are growing quickly in popularity, free audio streaming services are also growing, albeit at a slower rate — from 27% in 2019 to 36% in 2022.
The most popular music streaming service is YouTube (31%), followed by Spotify (26%).(13)
It’s difficult to determine the best streaming service since so many variables are subjective. Does the cost outweigh coverage? What about services that only offer specific or niche content? To consider the best streaming service, we considered what streaming services were most popular — not just in Canada but worldwide.
Three streaming services are widely available across the globe: Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime. Based on results from the Finder: Most Popular Streaming Service report,(14) Netflix is still the most popular streaming service in Canada. Roughly 42% of the 1,192 Canadian respondents say they currently have access to a subscription to Netflix.
The popularity of streaming services in Canada appears to be increasing as more options are made available in the marketplace. These days, a simple question — “What streaming networks are available in Canada?” — has a rather complicated answer. There are stand-alone streaming services as well as add-on streaming services only available through TV package options from internet providers.
While the list of streaming services available in Canada does change frequently, the major players include:
| Video Streaming Services | Cost | Where to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix |
|
|
| TSN |
|
|
| Amazon Prime Video |
|
|
| Crave |
|
|
| Disney+ |
|
|
| fuboTV |
|
|
| DAZN |
|
|
| Music Streaming Services | Cost |
|---|---|
| Spotify |
|
| Amazon Prime Music |
|
| Apple Music |
|
| SiriusXM |
|
| YouTube Music |
|
If you along with multiple family members want uninterrupted streaming, then you’ll need to pay attention to the speed of your internet connection. The first place to start is to test your current online connection, using the Finder: Internet Speed Test, below.
An internet speed test measures the upload and download speed of your internet connection.
Like all internet speed tests, the Finder: Internet Speed Test calculates how long it takes to transfer small amounts of data to and from your computer from the speed-test server.
Measuring how long it takes to transfer files gives an indication of the speed of your internet connection, measured in megabits per second (Mbps).
Many factors can influence actual internet connection speeds, ranging from the type of internet connection to the number of people trying to simultaneously use that connection to limits imposed by your internet service provider.
The Finder Internet Speed Test calculates a number of different factors related to your internet speed.
Results are only an indication of the speeds you are receiving and should be used as general advice to compare internet plans.
The Finder: Internet Speed Test uses a number of different factors that impact your internet speed — but the four most important features to consider include: Ping rates, jitter, download speed and upload speed.
Gender differences
Men and women love streaming almost equally, with men just a little more likely to subscribe to a video streaming service than women (53.1% vs 46.9%, respectively), according to Statista.
Income differences
Streaming may be the great democratizer. According to data from Statista, those with the lowest household income make up the biggest share of video streaming subscribers in Canada. When broken out by income, the percentage of video streaming subscribers is:
Age differences
Age remains the biggest determining factor in whether or not a person subscribes to a streaming service and how long they spend streaming on any device.
On average, Canadian adults spend 10 hours per week streaming content, and this includes any device. It’s no surprise that Canada’s youngest adults between the ages of 18 and 24, spend almost an hour—11 hours per week, on average, streaming on any device.
Young Canadians between the ages of 25 to 34 are the most likely subscribers to video streaming services, according to Statista, followed by those between the ages of 35 to 44. Surprisingly, the youngest Canadian adults, those between 18 to 24 are less likely to subscribe to a streaming video game service than their older counterparts.
Not surprisingly, only 14.3% of Canadians between the ages of 45 and 54, and 11.1% of Canadians between 55 and 64 subscribe to on-demand video services.
Given that budgets are tight, Canadians need to consider how and when to add a streaming service as part of their entertainment budget. To help decide what works best follow these tips:
Use free trials
Take advantage of free trials to test out services. Taking the time to test out each service helps you decide what works for your household needs and cuts the creeping cost of online streaming services.
Find all-in-one streaming platforms
While niche streaming platforms are great for avid fans or enthusiasts, most Canadians will be happy with a service that offers a good variety. For instance, Netflix offers an expansive selection of movies, TV shows.
Shop around
Want to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck? Check out our comprehensive online streaming service guide where we compare 40 products currently available in Canada.
The results of the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey Q2 were collected through an online Pollfish survey conducted between April 27 and April 29, 2023. In the survey, 1,011 Canadians from across the country were asked questions about their level of financial security and plans to adjust budgets and spending. The estimated margin of error for the survey is +/- 3%, 19 out of 20 times.
Finder is a personal finance comparison site with a mission to help Canadians save, invest, spend wisely and grow their wealth. Each month, Finder provides half a million Canadians – and more than five million globally – with independent and trustworthy financial information. Our goal is to help people make better financial decisions by providing objective, comparative insight on thousands of products and services.
As a global fintech website and app, Finder provides consumers free access to smart money content. Whether it's expert insight, product or service comparisons or independent reviews, Finder helps consumers stay on top of their finances while saving time and money.
Finder is available to consumers in Canada, Australia, America and the United Kingdom. Initially launched in 2006 by three Australians – Fred Schebesta, Frank Restuccia and Jeremy Cabral – Finder's global reach now includes thousands of products and services in hundreds of financial categories and provides expert content and independent reviews to more than five million users each month.
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