Adolescence or The Traitors? Netflix neck-and-neck with BBC as British viewers’ go-to

Amid slowing streaming market, Netflix still produces hits that help make it default service for quarter of Britons Netflix is neck-and-neck with the BBC as the default service Britons turn to when they switch on their TV, according to research. The home of Adolescence and KPop Demon Hunters is now the first port of call for 26% of viewers, Ofcom found. The national broadcaster is narrowly behind, as the go-to for 25% of audiences.. Although growth in streaming platforms has slowed in the UK, Netflix in particular is still producing breakthrough hits with audiences. Ofcom’s annual Media Nations report showed the hit film Kpop Demon Hunters and the crime drama Adolescence were the most watched in the UK in 2025, with the former reaching an audience of more than 24 million; the latter 16 million. The Netflix app comes with many smart TVs or streaming devices but users still need to pay for a subscription to watch it. However, Ofcom said viewing figures for the start of 2026 showed the BBC mounting a fightback, with the latest series of The Traitors and Tom Hiddleston’s return to The Night Manager topping the ratings. That trend has continued into the summer thanks to the BBC and