Broadcaster streaming services beat Netflix, Amazon

Streaming services from broadcasters and pay TV operators are giving Netflix and Amazon Prime Video a run for their money in France, Germany and the UK, according to new research.

Data from research house App Annie analysing monthly active users shows YouTube is the most popular destination for video streaming in the three major European territories.

In France streaming services from Orange, SFR and Canal+ – TV d’Orange, SFR TV and myCanal – all ranked higher than Netflix, which has struggled to establish itself in the country, only just making the top ten and placing ninth in the ranking.

In Germany the TV Spielfilm service was second behind YouTube, with Amazon Prime Video third, pubcaster ZDF’s ZDF-App fourth. Netflix was fifth, ahead of Twitch and pay TV platform Sky’s Sky Go.

In the UK the BBC iPlayer streaming and catch-up service ranked second. Netflix was fourth and Amazon did not feature in the top ten.

“TV-first companies such as Sky, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have gained a particularly strong beachhead in the UK,” App Annie noted.

“Early entry into the streaming market and strong promotion via their existing networks have given them a powerful first-mover advantage.”

In terms of how users access mobile video, App Annie said mobile – meaning smartphone or tablet – accounted for 46% of usage.