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Cable TV news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Cable TV subscriptions fell below 50% of U.S. homes in 2026, down from 88% in 2010.
Streaming dominance and content shifts signal cable's decline, affecting viewers and industry.
Background
Cable TV has been losing subscribers for years as streaming services like Disney+, Paramount+, and Peacock attract viewers with original content. The percentage of U.S. homes with cable or satellite subscriptions dropped below 50% in 2026, a historic first, according to Leichtman Research Group and CableCompare. This shift is driven by cord-cutting and the migration of premium content away from traditional cable networks.
How it unfolded
- 2010Cable penetration was 88% of U.S. homes.
- 2026Cable penetration fell below 50% for the first time, per Leichtman Research Group and CableCompare.
- Aug 28, 2026Charter Communications announced a $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications to consolidate and invest in broadband and mobile.
- Sep 3, 2026WOW! announced it will transition Florida residential cable TV customers to YouTube TV, discontinuing its own TV service on Nov 13, 2026.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- If consolidation trends continue, cable's share of TV viewing could fall below 20% before the end of the decade.
- Public
- Many viewers prefer streaming news online because it's cheaper and more tailored than traditional cable packages.