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Who’s Watching What? Streaming + Cable Habits Across Northeast Florida

August 25, 2025

At Wingard, we love digging into media habits to help our clients make smarter marketing decisions. Thanks to our Winsights toolbox, our team can analyze cable and streaming usage down to the Census block group level. But zoom out just a bit, and some fascinating patterns emerge between Duval, Clay, and St. Johns counties—patterns that reveal not just what people watch, but how they live, work, and spend their leisure time.

Here's what we're seeing, why it matters for your brand, and how you can leverage these insights for maximum impact.

The Surprising Resilience of Traditional Cable

Cable Isn't Dead Yet—It's Evolving

Rumors of cable's demise may be a bit premature, especially in our region. In St. Johns County, 34% of households still pay for cable, edging out Duval at 30% and Clay at 29%. That's not exactly what we'd call cutting the cord!

Why Cable Persists

  • Live Sports Dominance: Nothing beats the reliability of cable for live sporting events, especially crucial during football season when the Jags are playing
  • Bundling Economics: Many households find cable+internet bundles more cost-effective than expected
  • Generational Habits: Older demographics, particularly in higher-income St. Johns County, maintain traditional viewing patterns
  • News Consumption: Local and national news viewing remains strong on traditional platforms

Marketing Implications

Traditional TV advertising isn't obsolete. It's selective. In higher-income zip codes, particularly in St. Johns County, cable placements can still deliver significant ROI. The key is understanding that today's cable viewers are often dual-screening, creating opportunities for integrated digital campaigns that complement traditional spots.

The Streaming Landscape: More Complex Than Ever

Netflix Still Runs the Show, But the Kingdom is Crowded

About 60% of households across all three counties subscribe to Netflix, making it the undisputed streaming champion. However, the real story lies in the secondary subscriptions that reveal deeper demographic insights.

St. Johns County's Prime Advantage

St. Johns shows a noticeable bump in Prime Video subscriptions (45%), likely tied to higher household incomes and more frequent Amazon shopping. This correlation suggests that Prime Video subscribers in this area are accessing the service as part of broader Amazon ecosystem engagement. Meaning they're likely receptive to Amazon's advertising opportunities and more comfortable with e-commerce integration.

Hulu and Disney+: The Family and Urban Professional Split

  • Disney+ maintains consistent popularity across Northeast Florida (around 32%), directly correlating with family demographics and household income levels
  • Hulu shows higher penetration in Duval (26%), reflecting the county's younger, more urban demographic seeking broader content variety and next-day TV access
  • This split suggests different content consumption patterns: St. Johns families prioritize wholesome, long-form content, while Duval residents favor current, diverse programming

The Peacock Phenomenon

Peacock might not be the biggest streamer in town, but at around 16% usage across all three counties, it's quietly building a dedicated audience. This represents an opportunity for brands to:

  • Access less saturated advertising inventory
  • Reach engaged, early-adopter audiences
  • Benefit from potentially lower CPMs while the platform grows

Sports Streaming: The New Frontier

Beyond Traditional Sports Broadcasting

ESPN+ usage tells a compelling story: 7.9% in St. Johns, 7.5% in Clay, and 6.9% in Duval. While these numbers might seem modest, they represent highly engaged audiences with specific interests.

Regional Sports Passion Points

  • Jacksonville Jaguars content and analysis
  • University of Florida and Florida State University coverage
  • Local high school sports
  • Niche sports that don't get traditional TV coverage

The Streaming Sports Opportunity: Sports streaming audiences represent some of the most engaged viewers available. They're actively seeking content, willing to pay for access, and often consume sports-adjacent content, like podcasts, analysis shows, and social media discussions. For brands, this means:

  • Higher attention rates during ad breaks
  • Opportunities for sports-specific sponsorships
  • Cross-platform engagement potential

Audio: The Overlooked Goldmine

Understanding the Commuter Economy

The audio landscape reveals fascinating lifestyle patterns that smart marketers can make use of.

Duval's Spotify Dominance

Higher Spotify usage in Duval reflects:

  • Younger demographic preferences
  • Urban commuting patterns
  • Music-first audio consumption
  • Higher comfort with ad-supported content

St. Johns' Professional Audio Habits

St. Johns County's preference for podcasts and audiobooks suggests:

  • Longer commute times to Jacksonville
  • Higher education levels are driving content consumption
  • Premium content subscriptions (lower ad tolerance)

Strategic Audio Opportunities

  • Duval: Music-adjacent advertising, lifestyle brands, entertainment promotions
  • St. Johns: Professional services, educational content, luxury goods
  • Clay: Balanced approach reflecting suburban lifestyle needs

Demographic Deep Dive: What the Numbers Really Mean

Income and Media Consumption Patterns

The relationship between household income and media consumption in our region reveals strategic opportunities.

High-Income Behaviors (St. Johns County)

  • Multiple premium subscriptions
  • Cable retention for convenience and reliability
  • Prime Video correlation with the Amazon ecosystem
  • Podcast/audiobook consumption during longer commutes

Urban Professional Patterns (Duval County)

  • Platform diversity seeking variety and current content
  • Music streaming preference
  • Higher tolerance for ad-supported content
  • Mobile-first consumption habits

Suburban Family Dynamics (Clay County)

  1. Balanced traditional and streaming consumption
  2. Family-oriented content preferences
  3. Value-conscious subscription decisions
  4. Community-focused local content interest

Let's Build a Smarter Strategy Together

Understanding local media consumption isn't just about knowing what people watch. It's about understanding how they live, what they value, and where they're most receptive to your message. Whether you're planning your next media buy, rethinking your entire marketing strategy, or trying to understand how trends play out in Northeast Florida, our team can help you meet your audience where they are with messaging that matters.

The data tells a story, but the real value comes from translating those insights into campaigns that resonate, engage, and drive results. In a fragmented media landscape, success belongs to brands that understand not just what platforms people use, but why they use them and how that fits into their daily lives.

Ready to turn these insights into impact?

Let's chat about how we can build a media strategy that works as hard as you do.

Jax Chamber Events
Why marketers should attend: These aren’t your average mixers. JAX Chamber events bring together small business owners, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs actively shaping the city's future. For marketers, that means staying in the know on local business trends, networking, and hearing what's shaping Jacksonville's growth.

Events to watch:
Chamber Council Mixers
Trustee Mixers
Annual “Meeting”

Marketing takeaway: Stay ahead of local trends and discover the search terms people are actually using to grow their businesses in Jacksonville.
Regional Chamber & Business Councils
Why marketers should attend: Beyond the JAX Chamber, Jacksonville is home to several neighborhood-based and industry-specific chambers of commerce. These tight-knit networks offer hyperlocal insights and relationship-building opportunities that can power your next local campaign.

Look into:

Clay County Chamber of Commerce
St. Johns County Chamber
Beaches Division of the JAX Chamber
Nassau County Chamber of Commerce

Marketing Takeaway: Hyperlocal campaigns often mean hyper-targeted results. These groups help you understand the nuances of each community you serve.
First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FCHCC)
Why marketers should attend: FCHCC events are rich with entrepreneurial energy, cultural perspective, and networking potential with Jacksonville’s vibrant Hispanic business community.

Events to explore:
Achieving the Dream Luncheon
Social Cafecito with the Chamber (networking series)

Marketing Takeaway: Discover new audience insights and partnership opportunities while learning how to communicate to diverse communities.
Jacksonville Chapter Events: Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA)
Why marketers should attend: Public relations and marketing go hand in hand, and you can think of the North Florida PRSA and FPRA Jax as your go-to groups for communications insights, skill-building, and peer collaboration. For marketers who manage media, help shape public perception, and strengthen brand messaging, both organizations offer invaluable resources and a community of like-minded, local professionals.

Events to explore:
FPRA’s Annual Image Awards
PRSA North Florida’s Media Mashup
Professional development luncheons and mixers

Keep an eye out for the upcoming PRSA Sunshine District Conference, hosted this year in Jacksonville! Our Senior PR & Communications Manager, Ashley Williams, also serves as the PRSA Jacksonville Chapter President and is helping lead the planning efforts. This conference brings together industry leaders to share insights and explore the latest strategies in public relations, communications, and emerging technologies. The Wingard PR team looks forward to seeing you there!

Marketing Takeaway: Learn how to blend PR and marketing to craft campaigns that get attention and build trust with your community.
ULI North Florida: Real Estate + Development Talks
Why marketers should attend: If your clients include developers, real estate professionals, or civic organizations, ULI North Florida events are your inside scoop on what's next in Jacksonville. Think urban core revitalization, new project announcements, and commercial growth projections (which mean future content angles!).

Events to watch:
ULI Trends in Real Estate Conference (annual)
ULI North Florida - State of the Economy & Housing Market (annual)

Marketing Takeaway: Gain rich storytelling material and strategic context for real estate industry-related content.
Jacksonville Business Journal Events
Why marketers should attend: Get an insider look at Jacksonville’s movers and shakers. These events are great for building B2B connections and staying on top of industry shifts.

Notable series:
Tech Leaders of the Year
Fast 50
40 Under 40
Women of Influence

Marketing Takeaway: Stay on top of local happenings, network with community changemakers, and gain insight into business trends that matter locally!
JAXUSA Partnership Events
Why marketers should attend: JAXUSA Partnership is the economic development initiative of the JAX Chamber, and their events offer a high-level look at the forces shaping Northeast Florida's growth. Perfect for those working with clients in B2B, logistics, healthcare, or tech.

Key programming:
JAXUSA Luncheons

Marketing Takeaway: Use data-driven insights to inform your strategy and messaging!
Visit Jacksonville Industry Events
Why marketers should attend: As the city’s official tourism voice, Visit Jax knows destination marketing. Their events are ideal for content creators and marketers in food, travel, hospitality, and culture.

What to look for:
Partner Updates + Town Halls
Hospitality Nights
Collaboration Opportunities via their Partner Portal

Marketing Takeaway: Learn how to turn places into products. These sessions are masterclasses in lifestyle branding, SEO-driven content, and collaborative campaign building.
Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI) Events
Why marketers should attend: DVI knows how to bring life to a city block, and those activations are full of marketing lessons. DVI events center on placemaking and community-building in Downtown Jacksonville. You’ll see how visuals, street-level branding, and event marketing activate foot traffic.

Watch for:
First Wednesday Art Walk (monthly)
Stakeholder Meetings (quarterly)
Activation Workshops
Sip & Stroll (monthly—except June-August)
Annual #DTJAX Gala

Marketing Takeaway: Street-level engagement matters. Borrow these tactics for IRL campaigns, brand activations, and immersive experiences that foster brand loyalty and buzz.
The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida
Why marketers should attend: If you serve nonprofit clients, this is your front-row seat to what matters most in the mission-driven world. The Nonprofit Center hosts workshops, speaker series, and networking events, tailored specifically for nonprofit communicators, fundraisers, and leaders.

Programming highlights:
Annual Nonprofit Works Conference
Catalyst Convening Series Gatherings
Development + Communications Roundtables

Marketing Takeaway: Understand how to build campaigns around impact, empathy, and values, and how to communicate to donors, volunteers, and stakeholders.
Jessie Ball duPont Center Events
Why marketers should attend: The Jessie is the home base for many nonprofits and changemakers in Jacksonville. Their programming focuses on empowerment, civic innovation, and community impact — integral themes for mission-driven brands.

Events to attend:
Nonprofit Meetups
Civic Innovation Lunch & Learns
Community Open Houses

Marketing Takeaway: Learn how mission-driven organizations use storytelling, data, and empathy to build powerful movements.
TEDxJacksonville + Idea-Focused Conferences
Why marketers should attend: Learn from top-tier communicators and thought leaders who know how to distill big ideas into memorable messages. TEDx events and conferences like the upcoming 10X Jacksonville Summit (October 2025) are ideal for inspiration, community connections, and creative fuel.

Marketing Takeaway: Sharpen your narrative craft. Use speaker techniques — like pacing, metaphor, and audience-first language — to elevate your next pitch or brand message.
AIGA Jacksonville Events & Creative Meetups
Why marketers should attend: Design is the backbone of effective branding. AIGA’s events, like portfolio reviews and creative mixers, provide marketers a chance to collaborate with designers, scout talent, and explore the power of visual storytelling and user experience.

Great for:
Brand strategists
Content creators
UX-focused marketers

Marketing Takeaway: Improve your brand strategy by seeing how designers approach user experience, aesthetics, and storytelling. You’ll walk away with a stronger visual vocabulary and new creative partners.
Riverside Arts Market (RAM)
Why marketers should attend: RAM is more than handmade soaps and fresh veggies – it’s a front-row seat to the innovation of small business branding. Watch how vendors capture attention, share their stories, and build loyal audiences in real-time.

Marketing takeaway: Get inspired by grassroots marketing done well. Think: product storytelling, vendor displays, and niche audience engagement.
Creative Panels @ MOCA Jax, MOSH, and Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Why marketers should attend: These cultural institutions often host community-driven discussions, artist panels, book clubs, and storytelling events. Keep an eye out for exhibition openings and creative meetups for unique insights into how narratives drive engagement.

Explore Events for:
MOCA
MOSH
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

Marketing takeaway: Great marketing is about emotion and connection, which is exactly what these cultural institutions do best. Use their programming to recharge creatively and explore new ways to tell brand stories through art, history, and place.
Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville Events
Why marketers should attend: Cultural Council events ignite the creative economy and shine a spotlight on public art, local creatives, and cultural impact. Perfect for marketers interested in placemaking or community engagement.

Top events:
Annual Arts Awards
Public Art Dedications

Marketing Takeaway: Cultural storytelling builds deeper connections. Use what you learn here to create campaigns that resonate with local values and celebrate community identity.

Turn Local Insights Into Local Impact

Tapping into local events is just one piece of the puzzle. If you're ready to turn that inspiration into real results — whether it’s leveling up your Local SEO, launching a new campaign, or giving your brand a creative refresh — Wingard is here to help. We understand Jacksonville, and we know how to help your business thrive here. Let’s make something great, together!

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Let’s turn your idea into realized potential.