Hulu, Netflix Seen As Good Value, Traditional TV Stats Dip

The value of TV is declining in some areas. For example, the “perceived value” of free, ad-supported Web sites that air TV shows is slipping, as well as pay TV monthly subscriptions.

Subscription video services have a slightly higher value. According to Hub Entertainment Research, 64% of users say free, ad-supported Web sites such as Hulu either are of excellent or good value. This compares to a 68% number a year ago. Multichannel video program distributors' subscriptions -- cable, satellite or telecommunications -- are now at a 45% number, down from 49% in 2013. Likewise, premium cable network subscriptions are down -- at 28% versus 32% in 2013.

Still, when it comes to the likelihood of keeping a traditional pay TV video package a year from now, 71%, definitely/probably will. Only online streaming subscriptions overall are up: 49% versus 46%. The study says Netflix is growing as an alternative to DVR usage. Now, 18% say DVRs are a “default” when it comes to TV programming versus 20%, while Netflix has improved to 14% from 13% in 2013. When it comes to the value of discovering TV shows, 19% of respondents said they began watching a TV show “because of posts you saw from friends on Facebook” -- the highest result of eight social-media questions.