Canadians Cancel Streaming Subscriptions Over Cost

A new Angus Reid Institute poll finds more Canadians are dropping streaming services than four years ago, with cost cited most often.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Television

Bold vector editorial illustration of a television remote beside loose coins on a teal table, evoking streaming costs adding up at home. — Thirty-seven per cent of Canadians cancelled at least one streaming subscription in the past six months, with two thirds citing cost, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Have you cancelled a streaming subscription in the last six months because of cost?

Thirty-seven per cent of Canadians cancelled at least one streaming subscription in the past six months, up from 32 per cent, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll. The share cancelling more than one rose from 8 per cent to 17 per cent.

Why it matters

Two thirds of respondents who cancelled said cost was the reason, and 32 per cent said they were no longer using the service. The findings point to rising household sensitivity to the expense of stacking multiple platforms.

The Angus Reid Institute surveyed 1,806 Canadian adults online from October 19 to 22, 2026, with 84 per cent subscribing to at least one streaming service. Prime Video (62 per cent) and Netflix (60 per cent) lead, while cable or satellite subscriptions have fallen to about half of Canadians from 71 per cent in 2018.

The players

Angus Reid Institute

A Canadian public opinion research organization that conducts regular national polls on political, social and economic issues.

The details

Respondents who cancelled a streaming service most often cited cost, with two thirds giving that reason. More than a quarter of Canadians now subscribe to four or more streaming services, compared with 17 per cent in 2022.

2012: 88 per cent of Canadians subscribed to cable or satellite TV.
2018: 71 per cent of Canadians subscribed to cable or satellite TV.
2022: 17 per cent of Canadians subscribed to four or more streaming services.
October 19 to 22, 2026: The Angus Reid Institute conducted the online survey.

Trend Line

The decline in cable subscriptions, from 88 per cent in 2012 to about half today, has been followed by a shift in which streaming households are now cutting services rather than adding them. The Angus Reid Institute's comparison with its 2018 and 2022 polling shows that this pattern is building across Canada.

Canadians weighing their subscriptions can compare the cost of ad-supported tiers, which are cheaper than past ad-free rates but still carry a premium. Reviewing which services are actually used each month may help households decide which to keep.

The takeaway

Households reviewing their entertainment budgets may find that cutting unused services saves more than switching between platforms, since many cancellations reflect services no longer being watched.