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

[ncted]

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

Yeah, if you watch sports and flip between games, it makes sense, but when watching 30-60 minute TV shows, switching apps isn't really much of a hassle. The multi-view on YTTV is pretty nice for sports watching.

 

[AZ.]

Yeah, if you watch sports and flip between games, it makes sense, but when watching 30-60 minute TV shows, switching apps isn't really much of a hassle. The multi-view on YTTV is pretty nice for sports watching.

But the example used was how much money is being saved with each individual provider.....So with YTTV wouldnt even be close to a comparison when it comes to programing....Nothing is clear cut, and not black and white. I stream just about everything, and it sucks. Thats my opinion. I use my TV for locals, except NBC which I cant get. Thats the problem when you live in a place that nothing is perfect. Internet speeds just enough and locals not easy to receive.

 

[ncted]

I stream just about everything, and it sucks.

Yep. My wife routinely comments she wishes we just had cable/satellite with DVR like we used to, but then she wouldn't be able to watch most of her shows.

 

[navychop]

We have no interest in current sports. Waiting for Combat Curling and Tiddlywinking for dollars.

 

[meStevo]

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)

That's often overlooked in many of these comparisons - many people with a traditional pay TV package ALSO have a number of the streaming services. Then when some want to be critical about price and how it compares that's ignored to help prop up their argument.

 

[savarese04]

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)

my DTV payments were $120+

My monthly looks like:
Netflix standard/ads: $9 (I don't even watch this but some folks in family do)
P+ premium : $5 (I get base free with Walmart+, which i get free with Amex Plat; upgraded to ad-free)
Peacock ad-tier: free (via xfinity cable)
Disney/Hulu ad-free: free (via $25/mo Amex Plat streaming credits
Prime video with ads: free (I have Prime, for shipping and I barely watch PVideo)
AppleTV+: $13 (same as ncted, i have $40/mo Apple One family)
ESPN Unlim: free (YTTV)
FoxOne: free (YTTV)

Total streaming: $27/mo
+ YTTV= $65/mo
-------$92/mo

And honestly, I am way way happier with my content than I was the last 5-6 years on DTV.

 

[dishstaller]

My wife routinely comments she wishes we just had cable/satellite with DVR like we used to

That is usually what I hear from customers wanting me to put Dish in for them again. They get tired of hunting apps to see which one has the program they want to watch. They say "I want to type in 1-1-2 and get HGTV without having to ask my Wife which app has that channel".
A ton of people however have given up on traditional TV channels...I know I have. I used to love the History Ch but now it is nothing but a day long line up of either Pawn Stare or American Pickers. I actually mentioned this at the booth at TS a few years ago. The guy just nodded and said they hear that a lot. Ummmmmm, if you hear that a lot then FIX THE ISSUE.

 

[Bruce]

That is usually what I hear from customers wanting me to put Dish in for them again. They get tired of hunting apps to see which one has the program they want to watch.

But the main problem with that, the majority of new content is not on paid Live TV, only on streaming services (apps).

 

[MikeD-C05]

Too bad we can't have one master app that has all your other apps plugged into it on a home screen and when you want to watch a show you just type in or say the show and it comes up on that app without all the signing in bull crap. You could even have a line for each app with best shows playing on each app and you could browse them from there. You immediately begin to watch the show you want just by saying the name of the show or series. Would make streaming more like traditional sat or cable provider without all the other rigmarole. I don't watch sports at all, but my app would have these plugged in:

TABLO for ota - 4 networks record at a time.
DISNEY/HULU
NETFLIX
Paramount
HBO Max

 

[telstar_1]

I have the feeling the streamers don't want to make things too easy and visible- you might decide there are some you can do w/o

 

[dishdude]

But the main problem with that, the majority of new content is not on paid Live TV, only on streaming services (apps).

Let's face it, cable/satellite subscribers are generally older, less tech savvy and don't really care about new shows. They don't want to go in and out of different apps and just want to channel up and down or punch in a channel number. They just want to watch something and are fine with reruns, HGTV crap and movies on the Hallmark channel.

Set my mother in law up with apps that had all the content she likes and she doesn't use them, resorted to the sub channels on an OTA antenna because she "just wants to flip through the channels".

As the boomers die off, so will cable and satellite TV.

 

[b4pjoe]

Too bad we can't have one master app that has all your other apps plugged into it on a home screen and when you want to watch a show you just type in or say the show and it comes up on that app without all the signing in bull crap.

You just described the Apple TV basically.

 

[navychop]

Kinda Sorta.

 

[ncted]

You just described the Apple TV basically.

Except for the apps that don't play nicely with Up Next, like Netflix

 

[navychop]

Interesting to see who blinks first.

 

[b4pjoe]

Except for the apps that don't play nicely with Up Next, like Netflix

Apple would put Netflix up there if it could. Netflix won't allow it though.

 

[dishstaller]

Let's face it, cable/satellite subscribers are generally older, less tech savvy and don't really care about new shows. They don't want to go in and out of different apps and just want to channel up and down or punch in a channel number. They just want to watch something and are fine with reruns, HGTV crap and movies on the Hallmark channel.

Set my mother in law up with apps that had all the content she likes and she doesn't use them, resorted to the sub channels on an OTA antenna because she "just wants to flip through the channels".

As the boomers die off, so will cable and satellite TV.

That sums it up very well and matches what I see on a daily basis.

 

[MikeD-C05]

You just described the Apple TV basically.

I have never used an Apple TV unless you are talking about the app itself? I used it to watch two seasons of a show I liked with Carol Burnett. But they ended that show now. But never paid too much attention to the app except to see that one show then cancelled.

 

[navychop]

Apple TV STB. In their infinite wisdom, Apple reuses the same name for at least three products.

They aren't the only ones.

 

[b4pjoe]

I have never used an Apple TV unless you are talking about the app itself? I used it to watch two seasons of a show I liked with Carol Burnett. But they ended that show now. But never paid too much attention to the app except to see that one show then cancelled.

The Apple TV 4K device. Which was already pricey but recently they raised it even more. I think Apple is charging $249 for the most expensive model now.