Traditional/Streaming Live TV Providers Losses, 1st Quarter 2026 Edition

[meStevo]

As was mentioned Years ago when Streaming was all the rage, I mentioned then that it would eventually cost the same, but everyone said, But it So Much Cheaper ... Now (then)

My Directv when I started was $40 ... when I left it was $140 and thats with my company discount (As a Retiree).

It's still all the rage, and it is still largely cheaper and still valuable for the reasons it was 'years ago' when you were doing the chicken little thing.

 

[Ronnie-]

As was mentioned Years ago when Streaming was all the rage, I mentioned then that it would eventually cost the same, but everyone said, But it So Much Cheaper ... Now (then)

But even now, with the increased prices, it still isnt the same as sat and cable are.

I dont think anyone argued that streaming costs would not increase, and its not like sat or cable costs have remained frozen in time.

I still pay less for all of my streaming packages combined than I did for Directv or Dish 8-10 years ago. Some of the prices people post for those sat packages now are mind boggling to me.

 

[Jimbo]

But even now, with the increased prices, it still isnt the same as sat and cable are.

I dont think anyone argued that streaming costs would not increase, and its not like sat or cable costs have remained frozen in time.

I still pay less for all of my streaming packages combined than I did for Directv or Dish 8-10 years ago. Some of the prices people post for those sat packages now are mind boggling to me.

But they are catching up rather quickly ...
The People touting Streaming were saying "Oh it's Only $40 for you to Stream" ... Not Any More

Back then you'd watch 10-15 channels and they all wanted Ala Carte, well here you have it, except its scattered all over the internet, vs ala carte being on 1 platform.

 

[AZ.]

But they are catching up rather quickly ...
The People touting Streaming were saying "Oh it's Only $40 for you to Stream" ... Not Any More

Back then you'd watch 10-15 channels and they all wanted Ala Carte, well here you have it, except its scattered all over the internet, vs ala carte being on 1 platform.

And it will get worse with all these mergers. Then you will have only one place to get...............(fill in the blank)

 

[meStevo]

But they are catching up rather quickly ...
The People touting Streaming were saying "Oh it's Only $40 for you to Stream" ... Not Any More

Back then you'd watch 10-15 channels and they all wanted Ala Carte, well here you have it, except its scattered all over the internet, vs ala carte being on 1 platform.

Yeah, back when you said YTTV was a couple years from costing more than $100 a month. More than 3 years later it hasn't hit that mark yet.

And it will get worse with all these mergers. Then you will have only one place to get...............(fill in the blank)

... and then people should speak with their wallet if the value isn't there.

 

[Bruce]

But they are catching up rather quickly ...

The difference is still about the same, specially since providers are going up about $10 per price increase, some twice a year.

The People touting Streaming were saying "Oh it's Only $40 for you to Stream" ... Not Any More

You keep bringing up streaming, yet ignoring Paid Live TV's increases.

Plus the fact that streaming has all the new content, while Live TV has a lot less and more and more reruns.

Back then you'd watch 10-15 channels and they all wanted Ala Carte, well here you have it, except it's scattered all over the internet, vs ala carte being on 1 platform.

So, if I receive new content, along with the better video and sound, I can make a couple more button clicks.

 

[Jimbo]

The difference is still about the same, specially since providers are going up about $10 per price increase, some twice a year.

You keep bringing up streaming, yet ignoring Paid Live TV's increases.

Plus the fact that streaming has all the new content, while Live TV has a lot less and more and more reruns.

So, if I receive new content, along with the better video and sound, I can make a couple more button clicks.

You've repeated all this 10,000 times now .... are these horses Dead yet ?

 

[b4pjoe]

But they are catching up rather quickly ...

No they aren't. Satellite and cable are easily keeping pace and most times are increasing their leads in dollar figures. For example in the last 9 months DIRECTV has increased my account by $25 per month while all of the streaming services combined have not increased by anything even close to $25 per month. In a race someone at the back of the pack will never catch the leader when the leader is going faster then the person in last place. While streaming will catch up in dollar figures eventually it will only happen when the live TV services are all gone.

 

[meStevo]

You've repeated all this 10,000 times now .... are these horses Dead yet ?

Let us know, you're the one who keeps beating them when someone responds and kills the nonsensical arguments you keep making.

 

[Jimbo]

No they aren't. Satellite and cable are easily keeping pace and most times are increasing their leads in dollar figures. For example in the last 9 months DIRECTV has increased my account by $25 per month while all of the streaming services combined have not increased by anything even close to $25 per month. In a race someone at the back of the pack will never catch the leader when the leader is going faster then the person in last place. While streaming will catch up in dollar figures eventually it will only happen when the live TV services are all gone.

I really don't care that Live TV prices keep going up .... as some are saying here, they are no longer here.
I am concerned about my Streaming options continue to go up every year, sometimes twice ...

If my price goes up $10 p/m after 6 months ... thats alot, then again in 6 months ...
Cable never did that, they do now, because they figure they can get away with it ... pretty soon they will be able to get away with raising prices every month if they want ... there will be No Options, they will say Tough Luck, you have no where else to go ...

Back to those OTA networks that people think only have reruns on.
Believe me, I still watch most of my shows on Live TV Networks (via Streaming) ...

The channels are not going away, the options to view them are going away.

 

[navychop]

You've repeated all this 10,000 times now .... are these horses Dead yet ?

Must be close. Some French guy is circling around them with a fork.

 

[navychop]

When I started with Dish, $9.99/mo.

My last MyEntertainment bill was about $40.

I've noticed with streaming, commercial breaks are sometimes now 4-6 minutes. Sometimes I can't skip.

I SIMPLY REFUSE TO SIT THRU 4-6 MINUTES OF COMMERCIALS FOR ANYTHING!

If I must, I might have to pay for commercial free tiers. How much will THAT run, on average? How much does it close the gap with my Dish bill? I guess I must determine how much per month the H3 is worth. I don't recall being unable to skip with Dish. At least, for what we watch.

 

[meStevo]

I really don't care that Live TV prices keep going up .... as some are saying here, they are no longer here.
I am concerned about my Streaming options continue to go up every year, sometimes twice ...

If my price goes up $10 p/m after 6 months ... thats alot, then again in 6 months ...
Cable never did that, they do now, because they figure they can get away with it ... pretty soon they will be able to get away with raising prices every month if they want ... there will be No Options, they will say Tough Luck, you have no where else to go ...

Back to those OTA networks that people think only have reruns on.
Believe me, I still watch most of my shows on Live TV Networks (via Streaming) ...

The channels are not going away, the options to view them are going away.

Except that contrary to your habitual catastrophizing, a cable-like monopoly has a near-zero chance of happening. That only existed with Cable because there was only one pipe into your home - streaming obviously doesn't work that way - services compete between content libraries and the services are built around the convenience of churn we are able to enjoy absent the usual contract traps and fee structures of the traditional services.

Nobody has said prices aren't going up - everything naturally has gone up over time. Your prognosticating of streaming being prohibitively expensive has repeatedly proven to be unfounded or exaggerated. Just look at what you posted - the usual complaints about pricing and you have to make up a vague $10 twice in a year increase to shore up the argument that has no apparent basis in reality.

 

[savarese04]

I've noticed with streaming, commercial breaks are sometimes now 4-6 minutes. Sometimes I can't skip.

which non-FAST service has 4-6 minute commercials?

 

[ncted]

When I started with Dish, $9.99/mo.

My last MyEntertainment bill was about $40.

I've noticed with streaming, commercial breaks are sometimes now 4-6 minutes. Sometimes I can't skip.

I SIMPLY REFUSE TO SIT THRU 4-6 MINUTES OF COMMERCIALS FOR ANYTHING!

If I must, I might have to pay for commercial free tiers. How much will THAT run, on average? How much does it close the gap with my Dish bill? I guess I must determine how much per month the H3 is worth. I don't recall being unable to skip with Dish. At least, for what we watch.

Since you asked, this is what I pay:

Netflix: $20
Paramount+: $11.67 (annual billing)
Peacock: $14.17 (annual billing)
HBOMax: $15.50 (annual billing)
Disney/Hulu: $20
Prime Video: $3 (on top of Prime annual subscription)
AppleTV+: $13 (I actually pay $40 for Apple One Premier, but I don't know how to determine the discount)

Total: $97.34

My final Dish payment in 2019: $113.14 (which did not include Netflix, Hulu, and whatever other streaming services I had at the time)

 

[navychop]

Thank you. But WAY before I'd pay that, and deal with all those, I'd gladly pay Dish their bill.

 

[Bruce]

Thank you. But WAY before I'd pay that, and deal with all those, I'd gladly pay Dish their bill.

But you would have a lot less new content with Dish, at a more expensive price.

Have you not noticed the increasing amount of reruns on all those traditional (Broadcast and Cable) channels?

 

[AZ.]

Thank you. But WAY before I'd pay that, and deal with all those, I'd gladly pay Dish their bill.

Yep, wouldnt it be fun to flip between a football game on Fox and CBS?

 

[osu1991]

Nothing on dish or any other tv provider worth watching anymore other than an occasional sporting event.

 

[ncted]

Thank you. But WAY before I'd pay that, and deal with all those, I'd gladly pay Dish their bill.

If the new content I wanted to watch was available on Dish, etc., I'd rather have that as well, but alas, that is not the case.