Streaming TV Ad Seasonality: What It Means for Your Business

Streaming TV has completely changed how and when people watch their favorite shows. Gone are the days of rigid schedules and seasonal slowdowns — today, viewers are in control, and they’re watching on their own time, all year round.

That shift doesn’t just affect how we watch — it’s reshaping how brands advertise, too. The old rules about when to run campaigns or expect dips in viewership don’t really apply anymore. Instead, we’re seeing fresh opportunities for advertisers in every season.

In this article, we’ll explore how streaming has disrupted traditional TV seasonality, what that means for advertising strategies, and why it’s a big win for small and mid-sized businesses looking to make an impact.

TV Content Viewership Patterns: Statistics

In traditional TV, advertising was tied to a predictable calendar — big premieres in the fall, reruns in the summer, and ad dollars concentrated around key events like the Super Bowl or sweeps months. But streaming doesn’t follow that rhythm.

Streaming platforms release fresh content year-round. New shows drop weekly, monthly, or even all at once — which means viewers are constantly engaged, and there’s no such thing as an “off-season.”

💡 Tips: Don’t wait for a “perfect time” to launch your campaign — it doesn’t exist anymore with streaming TV. Focus instead on aligning your ads with moments when your audience is actively watching (think: long weekends, holidays, or even new season drops on major platforms).

Traditional TV maintains rigid seasonal rhythms:

• 79% of new scripted series premiered September-November (IMDb)

• Summer viewership historically drops 15-20% as audiences engage in outdoor activities (Nscreenmedia)

• Programmers counter with reruns and reality TV, creating predictable advertising lulls (Nscreenmedia)

Streaming services disrupt this model:

• 93% of smart TV usage now dedicated to streaming platforms

• Year-round content releases eliminate "premiere season" constraints

• Nielsen data shows streaming captures 34% of total TV viewership in summer months

• SVOD platforms like Netflix maintain 7%+ total TV share even during traditional summer slumps

Streaming TV Viewership Is Steady All Year

Traditional wisdom says summer is a slump for TV. But the data doesn't back that up anymore. Overall TV consumption (linear, streaming, and on-demand combined) only drops about 2% during the summer months (Mediapost).

Meanwhile, time spent on Connected TV (CTV) continues to rise. In 2024, U.S. adults spent an average of 2 hours and 3 minutes per day on CTV, up from 1 hour and 45 minutes in 2022.

Advertisers Step Back — You Can Step In

Here's where it gets interesting: while viewership holds steady, many advertisers still treat summer like a slow season. About 9% fewer brands run campaigns in summer, and nearly 1 in 10 go completely dark (Mediapost).

But fewer ads = less competition = more space for your brand

And the results show it. In 2022, advertisers who stayed visible during summer saw big gains in share of voice:

• Political advertisers: +26%

• Travel brands: +61%

• Event marketers: +78%

Remember: If your competitors are pulling back, that's your chance to move forward

Summer Content Isn't a Snooze

Another myth? That summer content is all reruns. Not anymore.

Streaming platforms now launch new, original content year-round—including summer. Reality hits like America's Got Talent keep engagement high. Plus, according to the research, which taps Gracenote’s Global Video Data, the number of active FAST channels in key markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada, has nearly doubled since mid-2023 to more than 1,610.

💡 Tips: Instead of choosing between a steady presence or big splash campaigns, combine both for maximum impact. Maintain an always-on campaign to keep brand visibility high throughout the year, and layer in special splash campaigns during key moments to grab extra attention when it matters most.

Streaming Unlocks Next-Level Targeting

One of the biggest advantages of streaming TV for advertisers? Precision.

CTV lets you target specific audiences, households, or even individual viewers. You can tailor your seasonal messaging to different audience segments — vacationing families, sports fans, or summer binge-watchers. That's a big leap from traditional TV's one-size-fits-all model.

💡 Tips: Use geotargeting to focus only on the regions where you actually do business. And layer in audience traits that match your ideal customer — think lifestyle, purchase intent, or past viewing habits.

Ad-Supported Streaming Is Booming

More and more platforms are betting big on ads. Amazon is expanding Prime Video ads to five new global markets in 2025, including Brazil, India, Japan, the Netherlands, and New Zealand (Amazon Ads). NBCUniversal's Peacock gained 4 million subscribers in one quarter — even after moving to a paid model. And Disney+ and Hulu are nudging more users toward their ad-supported tiers with pricing changes. The result? A bigger audience, more ad inventory, and fresh seasonal opportunities.

💡 Tips: Start small. Test a budget you’re comfortable with, and use reporting to track what’s working. Adjust campaigns in real-time based on performance.

Final Word: Don't Sleep on Summer

Streaming isn't slowing down for summer — and your ad strategy shouldn't either. While others pull back, you can lean in. With steady viewership, lighter competition, and smarter targeting tools, summer can be a high-impact time to grow your brand.

Skybeam makes it easy. Whether you're testing your first CTV campaign or scaling up, we've got the tools to help you run smarter ads that actually get seen.

Ready to make every season an opportunity? Start your campaign today!