Key stat: The average cost of ad-free streaming has risen from $9 to $16 per month since 2020, a 78% increase in five years, according to an October analysis from The Verge.

Beyond the chart:

• Price is now the top driver of churn. Some 66% of consumers who canceled a streaming service cited pricing, and 74% identified price as a key selection factor, according to a September 2025 YouGov survey.
• 45% of US households watched free ad-supported streaming TV in Q1 2025, up from 42% a year earlier, according to an October 2025 report from Parks Associates.

Use this chart: Drop this in your next CTV strategy deck to show why ad-supported tiers are gaining traction. Use this five-year pricing trend to justify ad inventory investments over premium placements. Benchmark your streaming media mix against the 78% price increase pushing viewers toward ad tiers.

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