Archive · 11 Jun 2025
Pay-TV Subscriber Decline Slows, but Still Faces Challenges
Pay-TV services, like cable, are losing customers to streaming.
The decline is still happening, but it might be slowing down.
Fewer households are watching traditional TV, with numbers similar to 1987.
YouTube TV also lost subscribers, partly due to price increases.
ESPN is moving into streaming, but it's not causing as much concern as expected.
Cable companies are offering bundled streaming services to attract customers, while some companies like Disney see success in combining traditional and streaming services.
Pay-TV subscriber declines continue, but the rate of decline may be slowing.
Penetration of linear video has fallen to levels not seen since 1987.
YouTube TV lost 500,000 subscribers in Q1 due to factors beyond seasonality.
YouTube TV prices have increased 137% since 2017.
ESPN's move to streaming has been met with a muted response, unlike the industry's past fears.
- Who
- MoffettNathanson, a Wall Street research firm.
- What
- Pay-TV subscriber numbers are declining, but the rate of decline might be slowing.
- When
- The report was released Tuesday and covers recent trends.
- Where
- The analysis focuses on the pay-TV market.
- Why
- To analyze trends in the pay-TV industry.
Traditional Pay-TV
Streaming Services
Market Trend
Traditional Pay-TV
Concerned about cord-cutting and subscriber losses.
Streaming Services
Finding stability as decline rate slows; generating sizable profits.
ESPN Streaming
Traditional Pay-TV
Feared the rise of ESPN streaming.
Streaming Services
Seeing little impact on the industry from ESPN streaming.
- Pay-TV Penetration
- Below 50%
- Comparable Year
- 1987
- Traditional Pay-TV Share
- 34.4%
- YouTube TV Subscriber Loss (Q1)
- 500,000
- YouTube TV Price Increase (2017-Present)
- 137%