2030 Forecast: Ad-Supported Video Soars 75% To $540B

Why It Matters

The rapid growth of ad‑supported digital video reallocates advertising spend, reshaping revenue models for broadcasters, brands, and investors. Understanding this transition is critical for strategic planning in the evolving media landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Ad‑supported video to hit $540 billion by 2030.
• Online video will hold 54% of global video revenue.
• Linear TV ad revenue falls 8% to $113 million.
• Subscription video share drops to 21% by 2030.

Pulse Analysis

The Omdia forecast released in April 2026 signals a seismic shift in the global video market. Advertising‑supported video, driven largely by social‑media platforms and connected‑TV ecosystems, is projected to grow 75 % to $540 billion by 2030. This surge will push online video’s share of total video revenue to 54 %, up from 40 % in 2025. The growth is underpinned by expanding mobile data, programmatic ad innovations, and the increasing willingness of brands to allocate spend to short‑form, highly targeted video formats.

Conversely, linear television’s ad‑supported segment is on a steep decline, expected to shrink 8 % to just $113 million. Broadcasters face a dual pressure: dwindling audience numbers and advertisers migrating toward digital inventory that offers measurable outcomes. The erosion of traditional ad revenue forces networks to accelerate direct‑to‑consumer initiatives, explore hybrid monetization models, and renegotiate carriage agreements. For agencies, the challenge lies in reallocating budgets while maintaining brand safety and viewability standards across fragmented social and OTT environments.

The forecast also reshapes strategic priorities for investors and content creators. With subscription‑based video revenue slipping to a 21 % share, ad‑supported formats become the primary growth engine, encouraging production of short, shareable content optimized for algorithmic distribution. Brands must refine data‑driven creative strategies to capitalize on the higher ROI of social video ads. Meanwhile, technology vendors that enable real‑time bidding, audience analytics, and cross‑platform measurement stand to benefit from the expanding $540 billion market.