Ad tiers accounted for 28% of global streaming subscription revenue in 2025

Here’s the deal:

Global streamers generated a new high of $157 billion in subscription revenue in 2025, according to a recent report by Ampere Analysis, a 14% jump from 2024.

Advertising plans accounted for 28% of that. In 2020, ad tiers accounted for just under 5% of global subscription streaming revenue.

It not only shows how much the streaming market grew in those five years, but also how much advertising has ballooned into a valuable revenue driver for streaming platforms.

Data debrief:

The report projected that total subscription revenue would increase to more than $200 billion by 2030, buoyed by price increases and ad-supported tiers.

Separately, ad revenue generated another $20 billion in 2025, and Ampere Analysis estimated that number could more than double by 2030, reaching $42 billion.

“As ad-free subscriber numbers stabilize, hybrid subscription and advertising models are playing an increasingly important role in revenue growth,” wrote Ampere analysts.

Why it matters:

Advertising has been advantageous for streaming platforms. Netflix, whose ads business is just over three years old, more than doubled ad revenue last year, for instance.

As streamers prioritize revenue over subscriber numbers, advertising will be ever more important.

“[The] emphasis is no longer on pure subscriber growth but on extracting greater value from existing audiences,” Ampere’s Lauren Liversedge told The Hollywood Reporter.