One in three Canadians cancel TV streaming service as cost of living rises

One in three Canadians has cancelled a TV streaming service in the last six months largely as a direct response to the increasing cost of living.

A recent Angus Reid Institute poll found the 18- to 34-year-old demographic was more likely to have cancelled a streaming service with 11 per cent in that age group saying they'd cancelled more than one service.

At least half of Canadians surveyed said they cancelled as a direct response to the cost of living crisis.

Close to 40 per cent said they'd cancelled because they weren’t using certain the service as much, while another 24 per cent said they'd cancelled because the service wasn't up to par.

READ MORE: Most B.C. workers would rather quit than return to the office permanently: Poll

While the results of the survey may concern streaming companies, the results show streaming services are now more popular than cable or satellite TV.

In 2016, almost half of the nation had a streaming service. That number has since jumped, and currently 85 per cent of Canadians use at least one streaming service while only 60 per cent have cable or satellite TV.

Who uses Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crave and other services is clearly defined by age demographics.

While roughly six per cent of 18- to 44-year-olds don't have any streaming services, for those over 65 years old that number jumps to 26 per cent.

For those 54 years and older, 82 per cent still subscribe to cable or satellite TV, while only 41 per cent of 18- to 34-year-olds say the same thing.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

Ben Bulmer

After a decade of globetrotting, U.K. native Ben Bulmer ended up settling in Canada in 2009. Calling Vancouver home he headed back to school and studied journalism at Langara College. From there he headed to Ottawa before winding up in a small anglophone village in Quebec, where he worked for three years at a feisty English language newspaper. Ben is always on the hunt for a good story, an interesting tale and to dig up what really matters to the community.

More Articles