A cartoon of a kid sitting in an armchair with popcorn and a remote. Text reads: Statistics

Illustrations by Jamie Coe

STANDARDS

CCSS: 6.SPB.5, 7.SP.A.2, MP1, MP3, MP5

TEKS: 6.12C, 6.12D, 7.6G, 7.12B

How We Stream

Do you love watching new shows and movies from the comfort of your couch? If so, you’re not alone. Last year, stay-at-home orders drove more people than ever onto streaming services to be entertained. It was perfect timing for new services like Disney+, HBO Max, and Peacock, which all launched in 2019 or 2020.

Streaming was on the rise even before the Covid-19 pandemic. “Streaming is a dominant form of viewing because of the two C’s: control and convenience,” says Myles McNutt. He’s a professor of communications and theater at Old Dominion University in Virginia. Unlike traditional television, which allows you to watch only what’s currently airing, you can pick from the streaming services’ huge libraries. It’s also more convenient than hunting down a physical disc like a DVD.

During the pandemic, streaming services also became a way to see new movies that would normally require a trip to a theater. Soul, Wonder Woman 1984, and many others premiered on streaming platforms. “With viewers encouraged to stay at home and movie theaters closed, streaming became the dominant form of mass culture,” says McNutt.

Going forward, it’s possible that studios will continue to release new movies directly to streaming services. But McNutt doesn’t think this is the end for theaters. “The experience of a big dark room, a tub of popcorn, and an emotionally charged crowd remains a key part of what people love about the movies,” he says.

Answer the questions using the charts and graphs above. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

Which streaming service shown has the most expensive basic monthly plan?

A. Hulu

B. Netflix

C. HBO Max

D. Disney+

What percent of people surveyed said they stream with a Smart TV?

A. 5%

B. 9%

C. 10%

D. 17%

How many people subscribed to YouTube Premium in 2020?

A. 30 million

B. 38.8 million

C. 94.9 million

D. 150 million

In which year did Netflix subscriptions first surpass 100 million?

A. 2013

B. 2015

C. 2017

D. 2019

If all of Hulu’s subscribers chose the lowest monthly subscription cost, about how much would they pay in all?

A. $258 million

B. $271 million

C. $568 million

D. $1.35 billion

Which streaming service shown costs a total of $71.88 per year?

A. Amazon Prime

B. Disney+

C. YouTube Premium

D. Netflix

According to those surveyed, about how many more connected TV devices did they use than gaming consoles?

What was the approximate percent increase in Netflix subscribers from 2013 to 2020?

You have a monthly budget of $30 to spend on streaming services. Which combination of those in the infographic would you choose? Why?

Poll your class on their favorite streaming service. Then make a circle graph of the results.

Skills Sheets (3)
Skills Sheets (3)
Skills Sheets (3)
Text-to-Speech