Ofcom's latest annual report on UK media habits shows Netflix has overtaken the BBC as viewers' preferred default choice for the first time, a symbolic shift given the BBC's decades-long dominance of British broadcasting. The finding underlines how streaming services are reshaping viewing habits, particularly among younger and middle-aged audiences, and adds pressure on traditional broadcasters already grappling with declining reach and revenue.

Ofcom's data puts Netflix as the default option for 26% of viewers, narrowly ahead of the BBC on 25% and ITV on 15%, with Netflix particularly dominant among 25 to 34-year-olds. YouTube is also surging, especially with 16 to 24-year-olds and the over-75s, with viewing minutes on the platform doubling since 2022. The report landed the same day the BBC announced it would axe shows including Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo, part of a plan to save £500 million ($664 million) over five years by cutting around 150 hours of original programming by 2028.