Canadians reconsidering streaming costs as prices rise: poll
· Toronto Sun
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Canadians seeking affordable entertainment at home are now finding they are paying more for multiple streaming services.
And many are reconsidering what streaming platforms they are willing to pay for.
According to Angus Reid Institute’s recent survey of 1,806 people, 84% of Canadians say they subscribe to at least one streaming service, which is unchanged from four years ago.
The top digital platforms, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, are in roughly three-in-five households.
Streaming cost hikes continue
While streaming has become a popular fixture in Canadian homes, its costs continue to steadily climb. That has led to subscribers questioning the economics of what they’re paying to watch.
“Much like 2022, many Canadians are cancelling subscriptions, but that number appears to have only risen,” the Canadian polling firm said.
In the past six months, 37% of respondents said they have cancelled a streaming service, up from 32% four years ago.
“More notably, the number who have cancelled multiple subscriptions has doubled (from 8% to 17%), suggesting the environment is even more dynamic now,” the pollster explained, adding two-thirds say saving money was the main reason.
Last week, a survey by the same pollster found a large majority of Canadians have grown weary and frustrated with the cable packages and streaming subscriptions needed and the associated costs to watch their favourite NHL teams.
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‘Streamflation’ hits U.S. viewers
Higher streaming costs – “streamflation” – has also hit consumers south of the border.
Research firm Forrester found the average price of ad-free streaming services in the U.S. increased 54% from 2021 to 2025, Variety reported in September .
Meanwhile, cable subscriptions continued to see a downward trend since Netflix first appeared in Canada in 2010 and other streaming services became available over the following years.
According to the survey, just half of respondents said they subscribe to cable or satellite television – a big drop from 71% in 2018 and 88% in 2012.
Younger groups not cable fans
And younger generations do not seem interested in hooking up the cable.
“The proportion of younger groups who subscribe to cable has been reduced significantly over the past decade,” the pollster said, noting nearly 30% say they have a cable subscription, down from half eight years ago.
The survey found many cable subscribers were unhappy with the cost, with two-thirds saying they feel the price of their package is just too expensive.
However, while a majority said they’re unlikely to cancel their cable entirely, a significant number confessed they’re leaning on cutting the cord.
“For Canadians weighing an expanding menu of entertainment options, the choice between streaming and cable may increasingly be less about convenience and more about which offers the better value,” the polling firm said.