Streaming services offer more content than ever, but many people in the UK still find it hard to settle on something to watch. Gracenote’s 2025 State of Play report shows that users spend about 14 minutes searching before making a choice.
In the UK and Germany, the time is closer to 11 or 12 minutes. There’s too much to sort through. Data from recent years shows how fast the UK streaming market has grown. Between 2015 and 2024, household use of subscription-based video services jumped from 20% to 68%.
More choice should mean more freedom, but it has often led to more confusion. People want services that are not only full of content, but also easy to use and better organised.
The Rise of the All-in-One Platform
With so many platforms available, it’s common for households to juggle multiple subscriptions. That brings higher monthly costs and forces people to jump between apps just to find something to watch or use. The idea of one service offering multiple types of content is starting to feel more practical than ever.
Gaming has shown how this works. Steam built a system that allows people to access a wide mix of titles in one place. It includes everything from indie games to major releases. No separate accounts or sites, just one platform that handles it all. A similar model is now appearing in other areas, including online casinos.
Some UK-based platforms, such as MrQ, let users access slots, bingo, jackpots, and live casino games under one account. It’s not just about content, but how it’s packaged. This shift shows that users are looking for variety without complexity. One login, one balance, everything in one place. That kind of simplicity now matters as much as what’s on offer.
Too Much Choice, Not Enough Clarity
A large catalogue no longer guarantees satisfaction. Viewers often open an app with a clear idea of what they want, only to scroll without result. Gracenote reports that 19% of people abandon a viewing session if they cannot find something suitable. That figure rises to 29% among 18–24s. Almost half say they would cancel a service over repeated difficulty in finding content.
Algorithms do not always solve the problem. Only 28% of viewers say they choose content based on platform recommendations. Many feel that homepages push similar titles again and again. BBC Three research on thumbnail placement even shows that positioning alone can influence viewing figures, which suggests that discovery still depends on surface design rather than personal relevance.
The message is clear. Audiences want sharper search tools and clearer categorisation. They expect platforms to reduce friction, not add to it. When discovery feels like work, viewers move elsewhere.
What Viewers Expect from Major Streaming Services
Streaming platforms differ, but the audience wants from them stays mostly the same. In 2024, Netflix was still the most widely used paid service in the UK, with nearly 60% of households signed up. Its biggest strength comes from steady content drops and exclusive titles.
Series like The Crown and Squid Game show the power of originals in holding attention. But with such a big catalogue, users often say it’s hard to find something new that fits their mood unless they already know what they want.
YouTube works in a different way, and it’s one of the most visited sites for video in the UK. People use it for short videos, live streams, and even full episodes. Channel 4 has leaned into this shift. In January 2026, the broadcaster said its viewer minutes went up by 25%, thanks in part to YouTube. It’s a sign that more traditional broadcasters now see YouTube as a serious part of their content strategy.
Even platforms like Hulu and Netflix still shape expectations in the UK. Global coverage and shared online discussions create a sense of comparison. People notice how other services price their content, update their libraries, and manage ad models. That shapes what users expect locally, too.
Control, Trust, and Design That Works
Viewers often hear that they control what they watch. Research suggests the reality feels different. BBC Three analysis found that thumbnail placement and homepage layout affect viewing numbers. That raises questions about how much influence users truly hold.
Trust plays a large role here. Surveys show that 72% of gamers distrust traditional advertising. That scepticism carries over into streaming. Heavy promotion and forced recommendations reduce confidence. People prefer direct search tools and honest categorisation over aggressive promotion.
Clear design builds loyalty. Simple menus, accurate filters, and transparent pricing reduce doubt. Platforms that hide content behind complex tiers or unclear rules face higher churn. UK audiences do not reject large libraries. They reject friction. When platforms offer openness and practical structure, users stay longer and search less.
The future of UK entertainment will not depend on who has the most titles. It will depend on who makes those titles easy to find and simple to access.
