It has finally happened

[Bruce]

There are now more households without a Paid Live TV Provider here in the United States, then those with one.

In 2019, 123 million Households here in the US.

That same year, about 100 Million had Paid Live TV.

Now, 62.23 million subscribers, including 40.90 million from traditional providers (cable, telco and satellite) and 21.33 million from a group of vMVPDs that includes YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling TV and Philo, among others.

There is about 133 Million Households now in the US this year.

That means over 70 Million do not have paid Live TV.

Fat Lady has sung and history has been made.

Household Estimates

Graph and download economic data for Household Estimates (TTLHHM156N) from Apr 1955 to Jun 2026 about households and USA.

fred.stlouisfed.org

US pay-TV sheds 2M subscribers in Q1

US pay-TV providers lost about 2.03 million subs in Q1 2026, a slight improvement from a year-ago loss of 2.17 million, says MoffettNathanson.

www.lightreading.com

 

[navychop]

So, how was your champagne?

 

[comfortably_numb]

I gotta ask, WHO CARES?

 

[Bobby]

I gotta ask, WHO CARES?

Consider it an article in a newspaper, whatever that is. If it doesn't interest you just go by that article and read the next.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Consider it an article in a newspaper, whatever that is. If it doesn't interest you just go by that article and read the next.

It's some kind of weird obsession. If I posted an article every few days about the "death of FTA," I'd get called out on it. But I'm not a "supporting founder," so I guess that's what makes it ok?

 

[Bruce]

It's some kind of weird obsession. If I posted an article every few days about the "death of FTA," I'd get called out on it. But I'm not a "supporting founder," so I guess that's what makes it ok?

Why are you making this post about myself, should be about the subject.

This is about the 20th time you have done so, perfect example of a weird obsession.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

All this and still nothing to watch.

 

[Jimbo]

Now, to be fair you need to subtract any person that has Live TV AND Streaming to get an accurate count ... otherwise they are counted twice, Streaming gets thier vote as well as Cable.

Better yet, Count those that Have NO Streaming

Also, is Streaming getting a Vote for each different Service they have, or is it just a household that has a Streaming service ?

 

[Bruce]

Now, to be fair you need to subtract any person that has Live TV AND Streaming to get an accurate count ... otherwise they are counted twice, Streaming gets thier vote as well as Cable.

If you actually read what I posted, I did exactly that-

Now, 62.23 million subscribers, including 40.90 million from traditional providers (cable, telco and satellite) and 21.33 million from a group of vMVPDs that includes YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling TV and Philo, among others.

Better yet, Count those that Have NO Streaming

Not the point, which is more Households do not have Paid Live TV than those that do.

Since Paid Live TV Providers lost 2 Million subs in the first quarter, that number is increasing.

Also, is Streaming getting a Vote for each different Service they have, or is it just a household that has a Streaming service ?

Again, not the point of the post.

 

[Bruce]

All this and still nothing to watch.

Depends on where you are looking.

For example, if I only watched Netflix, it would take me about 2 years to catch up
with all their new content.

 

[Jimbo]

If you actually read what I posted, I did exactly that-

Now, 62.23 million subscribers, including 40.90 million from traditional providers (cable, telco and satellite) and 21.33 million from a group of vMVPDs that includes YouTube TV, Fubo, Sling TV and Philo, among others.

Not the point, which is more Households do not have Paid Live TV than those that do.

Since Paid Live TV Providers lost 2 Million subs in the first quarter, that number is increasing.

Again, not the point of the post.

Yippie , I'll give you a Pat on the back ...

You make this sound like its a Big deal ...it was inevitable, it was going to happen sometime ...
I bet those Streaming Companies are Celebrating every where today

 

[meStevo]

Yippie , I'll give you a Pat on the back ...

You make this sound like its a Big deal ...it was inevitable, it was going to happen sometime ...
I bet those Streaming Companies are Celebrating every where today

Aww, poor guy, not able to move the goalposts in any of the directions you tried to carry them so you resort to the lazy nonsensical attacks like the other detractors.

 

[comfortably_numb]

should be about the subject.

Except we get it. "Traditional Paid Linear TV is dead." How many more times do we need to be reminded?

 

[meStevo]

Except we get it. "Traditional Paid Linear TV is dead." How many more times do we need to be reminded?

I'd agree if that was the point actually being made, rather than discussing hitting a threshold. Pretty big milestone.

 

[Bruce]

I'd agree if that was the point actually being made, rather than discussing hitting a threshold. Pretty big milestone.

Correct, major milestone, plus the fact that it only took about 7 years to happen.

The other point, as I mentioned 2019, when there was 100 Million Paid Live TV subscribers.

They were almost all Cable/Satellite customers, now, only about 40 Million use those services, about a 60% loss in subscribers.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Post in thread 'Dish Bankruptcy - Business as Usual'

Aug 5, 2026

Added the Hopper Plus and a wireless Joey 4 to my account after the recent updates to the software (MultiView).

Why are you still using Dish? Haven't you heard, "Traditional Paid TV is dead!!!"

/s

• comfortably_numb

• 

 

[comfortably_numb]

as I mentioned 2019

7 years is a long time to be salivating over the death of a broadcast format.

 

[Bruce]

7 years is a long time to be salivating over the death of a broadcast format.

Not really, specially since Cable TV has existed for over 50 years and was king for the majority of those years.

I predicted here a few years ago, that this would happen in 2026.

 

[Jimbo]

Not really, specially since Cable TV has existed for over 50 years and was king for the majority of those years.

I predicted here a few years ago, that this would happen in 2026.

Of course back then there was no OTHER options, you had OTA or Cable.

 

[MikeD-C05]

Except we get it. "Traditional Paid Linear TV is dead." How many more times do we need to be reminded?

Till the end of time....