Research firm Parks Associates published its annual “Top 10 List of U.S. SVOD Services,” based on subscriber data through September 2025 from its Streaming Video Tracker. The study reveals that Netflix has moved past Prime Video to reclaim the #1 position, while Hulu has climbed into third place ahead of Disney+. The report estimates that 91 percent of all U.S. internet households now subscribe to at least one streaming service, and that 46 percent are using free ad‑supported services, underscoring that nearly half of the market has embraced ad‑based viewing models.
The shift in rankings is driven in part by distribution dynamics: Hulu’s upward leap is attributed to its partnership with Charter, which gave Hulu immediate access to millions of broadband households. Michael Goodman, Senior Contributing Analyst at Parks Associates, said: “Hulu’s jump past Disney+ is a result of smart distribution strategy. The Charter deal gave Hulu instant access to millions of households, reinforcing how vital partnerships between broadband providers and streamers have become in defining the new entertainment bundle, and the ability to scale.”
The full top‑10 list for U.S. subscription streaming services is: (1) Netflix, (2) Prime Video, (3) Hulu, (4) Disney+, (5) Peacock, (6) Paramount+, (7) Max, (8) Apple TV+, (9) YouTube Premium, and (10) ESPN+. The findings illustrate how industry consolidation, evolving ad‑supported and hybrid business models, and platform bundling are reshaping the competitive landscape.
For content producers, advertisers, and streaming platforms, the data signals a moment of transformation: while Netflix’s resurgence reflects the enduring power of global brand and content scale, the rapid expansion of ad‑supported and bundled access models highlights the necessity to innovate both product and distribution strategy in a fragmented and highly competitive market.
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