Even as streaming services like Netflix and Hulu dominate home entertainment, most Americans who say they get news from TV still turn to traditional sources like cable, satellite, or broadcast channels.
According to a new Pew Research Center survey, 57% of U.S. adults who watch TV news say they mostly get it through these traditional platforms. Just 34% say they mostly rely on streaming services for their television news.
That split is even wider among people who prefer watching the news on TV more than any other platform. Of that group, 70% say cable, satellite, or broadcast is still their main source for televised news. Only 21% say they lean mostly on streaming.
The divide becomes sharper by age. Among TV news consumers under 50, nearly half (46%) say they get most of their TV news from streaming. But for adults 65 and older, that number drops to just 16%—while 75% of that group still rely on traditional TV sources.
Education also appears to play a small role. About 39% of those with a college or graduate degree say they get their TV news from streaming services, compared to 30% of adults with a high school diploma or less. The study found little difference across gender or political affiliation.
Overall, TV remains a key part of the news diet in the U.S., with 64% of adults saying they get news from television at least sometimes—and 32% saying they do so often.
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