Buzz
Views on ad-supported TV streaming are divided—49% of subscribers in a recent survey expressed being “very satisfied” with it, while 54% of the same respondents indicated plans to switch to ad-free streaming in the next 2-3 months. This shows that many are still uncertain whether paying a bit more each month to completely avoid ads is worthwhile—so how can you decide what's best for you?
Gauge your ad tolerance between streaming and cable TV
A useful starting point is to compare with cable TV, which averages 12 minutes of ads per hour. With basic cable ranging from $45 to $130, you're already paying more for greater exposure to ads compared to ad-supported streaming, which features only about 5-10 minutes of ads per hour. Here's a comparison of major services:
Hulu Basic is priced at $5.99/month and has the highest ad load among the services listed, with roughly 10 minutes of ads per hour of streaming. This is fewer ads than you would encounter with cable TV, but it can still be bothersome to have unskippable interruptions during a feature-length movie. On the bright side, Hulu offers an extensive library of shows and movies to enjoy, which outshines platforms like Peacock in terms of variety.
HBO Max With Ads is $9.99/month, and promises no more than four minutes of commercials per hour of content. While this ad rate is among the lowest, HBO Max is also the priciest option here and does not include new movie releases.
Peacock is available for $4.99/month, with around five minutes of ads per hour of streaming. This is still a significant improvement over cable TV. The ad rate may reset if you skip ahead or move between shows often, however. While it offers fewer titles compared to Hulu, its ad load is much lighter. Additionally, the premium version of Peacock includes occasional ads for a select group of shows.
Paramount+ offers an ad-supported tier at $4.99/month, with about 4 minutes of ads per hour of streaming content.
Take into account cost and content variety
Ad-free subscriptions typically cost an extra $5-6/month. Whether it’s worth the extra fee depends on how much you mind ads and how often you watch. For example, I’m a light user of Peacock, only tuning in for old sitcoms occasionally, so I don’t need the premium option. But for YouTube? I use it for hours each day, sometimes up to three or four, so I’m happy to pay $12 for YouTube Premium to skip 20-30 minutes of ads (after all, life’s short).
Of course, your ad tolerance will vary. If you’re undecided between a paid or ad-supported plan, it might be wise to start with the ad-supported version and then upgrade if needed later on.
