Roku reveals how streaming habits can make or break your romantic relationships

Cuffing Season is in full swing and the chill in the air is starting to nudge us closer to the cozy confines of our couches. Whether it’s snuggling up to festive rom-coms, tuning in for football Sunday via our Sports experience or exploring the latest winter releases on The Roku Channel, we’ve all found warmth and comfort in TV streaming, especially with that special someone. 

So, we couldn’t help but wonder: How are our streaming habits influencing our love lives? 

To get to the bottom of our question, we commissioned Harris Poll to survey 2,000+ adults in the U.S.*, and the findings revealed a series of rom-com-worthy, icks, red flags, and must-haves when it comes to what people are looking for in a potential partner when it comes to their  streaming habits. 

Check out what people said below – it might just make you hit pause on that next episode!

Breaking the Ice

• Over half (52%) of streamers would likely bring up their current streaming obsession during an awkward pause in a conversation. A streaming save!

Stream-Cheating

• Are you guilty of sneaking in an extra episode without your partner? You’re not alone! 1 in 5 (21%) of coupled-up streamers confess they’ve hit the roof when their significant other watches a show they started together solo. 

Sacrificing for Love

• Ever faked interest in a show just because your partner can’t turn it off? Join the club! Nearly 1 in 4 streamers (23%) admit they’ve pretended to like a show just to please their significant other.

The Two-Streaming-Service Standard

• 29% of unmarried streamers have set the bar: they won’t date someone who doesn’t subscribe to at least two streaming services. Talk about setting standards!

Spoiler Alert – Or Not?

• 26% of streamers would rather give up sweets for a week than hear a spoiler.
• 19% would sacrifice coffee for a month to avoid spoilers.
• 18% would willingly stub their toe.
• 16% would prefer to do their taxes.
• And, 10% would go a week without their phone, all in the name of unspoiled plotlines!

These findings are a peek into how streaming is weaving into our romantic tales and perhaps, becoming a character in our love stories.

So, whether you’re a serial show-pretender, a staunch anti-spoiler, or someone who uses streaming as a conversational lifeboat, you’re not alone. And who knows, your favorite flick or TV show might just be the ice-breaker you need on your next date! Let’s keep streaming, loving, and finding joy in the little things that connect us all.

Happy Streaming and Cuffing Season!

[*] Roku/Harris Poll, July 2023

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Roku from July 26-28, 2023, among 2,047 adults ages 18 and older, of whom 1,665 are streamers (i.e., use one or more streaming services to view content). The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.