It feels like every other week we’re getting hit with news about the entertainment industry that impacts us as TV watchers. There are price hikes. There areย company mergers. Live sports streaming is messy. And there’s the ongoing convo about whether we’re back in the cable TV era, despite streaming services’ takeover of our wallets and screens.ย
It’s no surprise that, on average, we spend $101 a month on streaming here in the US. It’s probably no surprise that the number of households that still have traditional TV has declined to 41%, while 91% of us have streaming subscriptions, according to Parks Associates. We’re streaming Stranger Things, NFL games, Landmanย and live events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We watch a lot at home, and we watch more on our phones — whether we’re on the go or staying put at home.ย
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But there’s something else going on. We, as viewers, are changing the type of content that is king, and we’re influencing how and what stories are made.ย
Microseries could be the next ‘it’ genre
Deloitte published its 2026 Technology, Media & Telecommunications Predictions report in November, highlighting the new directions TV is taking, thanks to our evolving viewing habits. The takeaway? Get ready for more microseries and video podcasts.ย
This year, media research experts say we’re consuming more video content through social media and streaming services, such as YouTube, Netflix and TikTok, rather than traditional TV. While there’s an uptick across all generations, Gen Z and millennials surveyed are getting most of their video entertainment through social media and consider it their main way of watching TV — via their phones. It’s a shift that has gotten audiences accustomed to abbreviated forms of entertainment where there’s an appetite for short-form vertical videos, and microseries could become the next big wave. ย …