Streaming ad loads jump 18% in 2026, Paramount+ tops chart, Prime Video cuts back
An Ampere Analysis report cited by Business Insider found that average ad minutes per hour across major US ad-supported streaming tiers rose 18% between January and August 2026. Paramount+ now shows the most ads at just over nine minutes per hour, while Netflix saw the sharpest percentage jump, climbing from 1.40 to 2.44 minutes per hour, though it still airs the fewest ads overall. Prime Video was the only service among the group to actually cut its ad load during this period.