Prime Video reportedly surpasses Netflix as the no. 1 streaming service in the U.S.

According to a new study released by the research firm Parks Associates, Netflix has been bested in the United States for the first time in years. The newly released data shares that Prime Video has supplanted Netflix as the no. 1 streaming service in the U.S., while Netflix still reigns internationally, reports Deadline.

It’s unclear exactly how Parks Associates came to this conclusion since Prime Video has kept most of its Prime statistics secret. It’s worth noting that the actual “Prime” subscription is about more than just Prime Video. Prime members also get free Amazon shipping and various other discounts.

Prime Video beats Netflix in the top 10 OTT rankings in the United States

The chart released by Parks Associates documents the top 10 OTT streaming services in the U.S. from 2019 to 2022. Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video have remained the top 3 each year, but this is the first time Netflix has not come out on top. Disney+ was close to cracking the top 3 this year, with Hulu and Disney+ switching spots each year since 2020.

Besides the battle between the big three, Peacock has also entered the top 10 for the first time, kicking Showtime out of the ranking altogether.

Deadline states that Amazon has more than 200 million subscribers, and their new big-budget Lord of the Rings series, Rings of Power, was reportedly viewed by more than 100 million subscribers.

Netflix losing to Prime Video isn’t too surprising because Netflix has been having a rough 2022 overall.

“Netflix, meanwhile, has hit a plateau in the U.S., even shedding a small amount of subscribers over recent quarters. The company reported 73.4 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada as of September 30, up 100,000 from the previous quarter but below levels in 2021 and earlier this year,” says the Deadline article.

Netflix combats subscriber loss with the introduction of an ad-supported plan

The company’s stock plummeted a record 68% from January to April this year, which sent shockwaves through the company. Given the circumstances, it’s understandable why Netflix rushed to get its new “Basic Plan with Ads” tier on the table.

This new plan offers subscribers a much cheaper subscription for $6.99/month with the inclusion of advertisements. Almost all streaming services now offer some ad-backed plan, including some of Netflix’s biggest competitors like Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+.

With so many new streaming services all vying for subscriber money and viewership numbers, it’s no surprise we’re seeing drastic placement shifts in these rankings.

Of Netflix’s entrance into the advertisement world, Parks Associates Research VP Jennifer Kent says, “Netflix’s ad-supported plan gives the company a way to win back subscribers who left over high subscription prices. It also gives Netflix a path to creating unique accounts for those who have been content to share passwords with friends and family in the past. It’s an exciting time to track these services, with lots of disruption and change.”

Check out the full chart here.