Traditional/Streaming Live TV Providers Losses, 2nd Quarter 2025 Edition

[telstar_1]

Charter/Spectrum lost 80,000 TV Subscribers, much better number than last quarter.

But also lost 117,000 broadband customers.

Spectrum Lost 117,000 Internet Customers & 80,000 TV Customers in Just 3 Months | Cord Cutters News

Charter Communications, operating under the Spectrum brand, reported a loss of 117,000 Internet customers and 80,000 TV customers in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting ongoing challenges in the broadband and video sectors. As of June 30, 2025, Charter served 29.9 million Internet customers...

cordcuttersnews.com

But that's actually backward- they've only been hanging onto so many TV subs because they have them for broadband. So if they're losing more from broadband now than from TV, they're cratering. Competition like fiber is coming online in more of their areas.

 

[dishdude]

But that's actually backward- they've only been hanging onto so many TV subs because they have them for broadband. So if they're losing more from broadband now than from TV, they're cratering. Competition like fiber is coming online in more of their areas.

It's a death spiral, they're getting hit with all the wireless 5G offerings too. They're getting killed by their own GREED and sleazy sales and billing tactics that they were able to play so long only because they were the only option for many.

 

[MikeD-C05]

It's a death spiral, they're getting hit with all the wireless 5G offerings too. They're getting killed by their own GREED and sleazy sales and billing tactics that they were able to play so long only because they were the only option for many.

They are Cable. The very competitor DISH used to go after in their older commercials and how satellite had so much more value. DISH is operating just like cable. NO changes to their fees and their prices continue to go up every year and have since 2000. At least Directv is trying give you 3 apps for the same price as one of their genre pack. DISH hasn't changed much of anything since the introduction of the Flex pack - they no longer advertise. They are just running on auto pilot...right down the drain.

 

[Bruce]

DISH hasn't changed much of anything since the introduction of the Flex pack - they no longer advertise. They are just running on auto pilot...right down the drain.

From the Q2 2025 Report-

In a Friday 10Q filing, EchoStar further highlighted its own peril: "We currently do not have the necessary cash on hand, projected future cash flows or committed financing to fund our obligations over the next twelve months, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern," the company stated.

https://www.streamtvinsider.com/tec...ose-289k-pay-tv-subs-q2-bankruptcy-bells-toll

 

[b4pjoe]

In a Friday 10Q filing, EchoStar further highlighted its own peril: "We currently do not have the necessary cash on hand, projected future cash flows or committed financing to fund our obligations over the next twelve months, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern," the company stated.

Is that bad?

No problem. Just borrow more money to keep it going. It has worked for years now. LOL

 

[dishdude]

Is that bad?

No problem. Just borrow more money to keep it going. It has worked for years now. LOL

Just wait until their new satellite internet service launches in 2029 lol

 

[savarese04]

which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern,

bankruptcy incoming!

 

[navychop]

Almost unavoidably, after the Financial Statements include such a statement. Banks won't touch you. Look for a "good friend."

 

[Bruce]

Total lost this quarter so far-757,000

Hulu Live lost 100,000.

Count is up to 857,000 lost this quarter.

Hulu + Live TV Lost 100,000 Subscribers But Disney's Streaming Services Made $6.2 Billion in Revenue in The 3rd Quarter of 2025 | Cord Cutters News

In a robust third-quarter performance for fiscal year 2025, Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) division reported a 6% revenue increase, reaching $6.2 billion, driven by strong subscriber growth and operational improvements. The segment, encompassing Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, posted a profit of...

cordcuttersnews.com

 

[Bruce]

By the way, with the 2.5 Million that left in the first Quarter, now at 3,357,000 lost in the first two quarters, with DirecTV, Fubo, YTTV, Altice, Cox, etc yet to report.

Definitely will be over 4 Million total lost already in the first half of the year, 7-8 Million for the year.

Easily by the end of the year, looking at over 52-55% Households without a paid Live TV subscription, with will be 45-48%.

In 2017, about 80% of Households in the United States had a paid live TV service, amazing that the exodus from Traditional Service happened in just 8 years and continues to get worse.

 

[savarese04]

If they are merging Hulu with D+ (smart, for cost synergies), by early next year that means this article is accurate and Hulu + Live TV is getting spun off to Fubu earlier than expected.

Fubo Sees Disney, Hulu + Live TV Deal Closing Earlier Than Anticipated

Fubo accelerated the expected timeline for closing its sale to Disney, now anticipating the transaction will close late this year or early next.

deadline.com

 

[llokey]

By the way, with the 2.5 Million that left in the first Quarter, now at 3,357,000 lost in the first two quarters, with DirecTV, Fubo, YTTV, Altice, Cox, etc yet to report.

I didn't think that DirectTV reported. Did I just remember wrong?

 

[Bruce]

I didn't think that DirectTV reported. Did I just remember wrong?

I receive the numbers from Fitch Ratings, who does their Credit/Bond/Debt Ratings, as approved by the SEC, so they have accurate numbers.

Here is the last report, Jan 2025

DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 9.7 million subscribers at the end of 3Q24.

https://www.fitchratings.com/research/corporate-finance/fitch-rates-directv-proposed-senior-secured-debt-offering-bbb-rr1-30-01-2025

 

[Bruce]

Count is up to 857,000 lost this quarter.

Altice ( former Cablevision) just reported, 56,100 lost.

Now up to 913,100 lost this quarter.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250807908104/en/Altice-USA-Reports-Second-Quarter-2025-Results

 

[navychop]

You providing the food and booze?

 

[Bruce]

Massive loss for Fubo, 114,000 lost in the 2nd Quarter, down to 1,356,000, had 1,676,000 in the US just two quarters ago ( 4th Quarter, 2024).

Disney needs to receive a rebate on that merger amount.

https://s21.q4cdn.com/819998841/files/doc_financials/2025/q2/2Q25-SHL_20250807_1019.pdf

Total lost of 1,027,000 so far, with the estimated losses of 100,000 for Cox, 400,000-500,000 for DirecTV, a rumored loss of 300,000 for YTTV, a total of 1,800,000-1,900,000 gone from paid Live TV this quarter.

For two quarters, 4.3M to 4.4M left paid Live TV, that means by the end of the 3rd Quarter, more Households in the United States will not have Paid Live TV, then those who do.

Cord Cutting is definitely not slowing down.

 

[Bruce]

Total lost of 1,027,000

WOW reported yesterday, video subscribers decreased from 48,900 to 42,500), 1st to 2nd quarter, so a loss of 6,400.

They are no longer adding new subscribers.

Total 1,031,400 so far.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wideopenwest-inc-wow-q2-2025-070729789.html

 

[Radioguy41]

What I'm curious about is what new customers are they getting? where from? We talk about how many subs "lost" but really that number is net. So if 200k are "lost," they probably are losing 225k and picking up 25k (just guessing)

So who is a new sub to these services and where are they coming from? Is it:
1) a person moving from Xfinity to Dish? or vice versa?
2) a person moving and needing service in a new area?
3) a younger person moving into their own place and a first time sub for anything

I am guessing #3 is probably close to zero, but curious how it breaks down.

or people coming back for the convenience. Some folks just want to turn on the TV, scroll the guide, and pick a channel/show. Some streamer interfaces are not necessarily all that user friendly. What can make it even more frustrating is if you have to sub to more than one service to get all the channels you want. The idea of "one stop shopping" can be appealing.

 

[Bruce]

What can make it even more frustrating is if you have to sub to more than one service to get all the channels you want. The idea of "one stop shopping" can be appealing.

Except people are realizing that those channels no longer have all the content, the vast majority of new scripted content is on the streaming services, along with all the new content from those channels.

There is a reason why Paid Live TV losses keeps increasing every quarter, while most streaming services goes up.

The majority do not care about channels.

 

[navychop]

I'm going to have to note here:

Oddly, the recordings on Dish have less blocking than the same show recorded on streaming. DTV MyEntertainment. And I'm not saying the PQ otherwise is noticeable.