YouTube TV will be biggest pay-TV company by 2027
YouTube TV will be biggest pay-TV company by 2027
A new forecast from Omdia has YouTube TV surpassing Charter and Comcast in subscribers before the decade is out.
Comcast and Charter Communications had better enjoy their remaining time at the top. That’s the conclusion to be drawn from the latest forecasts from technology research and advisory group Omdia; on Thursday, Omdia shared a new set of forecasts which predict that there are only months left until YouTube TV surpasses Comcast and Charter to become the largest pay-TV distributor in the United States.
Key Details:
- Growing fast: YouTube TV will be the largest pay-TV distributor in the United States by 2027, per Omdia.
- Continued expansion: By that time, YouTube TV will have nearly 10.5 million subscribers.
- Industry first: If the forecast is accurate, it will mark the first time in U.S. television history that the largest distributor is digital rather than linear.
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As measured by Omdia, YouTube TV will be the biggest pay-TV distributor in the United States by 2027. The streamer has 9.3 million subscribers currently, per Omdia’s analysis, versus 10.6 million for Comcast and 11.5 million for Charter Communications.
However, according to Omdia, that apple cart will be upset in the coming months. By 2027, the firm forecasts that YouTube TV will have 10.4 million customers, versus 10 million flat for Charter, and another 9.2 million for Comcast. If accurate, those numbers would be historic, according to Omdia’s head of media and entertainment, Maria Rue Aguete.
“For the first time in US television history, the largest pay-TV operator will be a virtual provider,” Rua Aguete said. “YouTube TV has evolved into a full pay-TV bundle, integrating linear channels, premium networks, and marquee sports properties such as NFL Sunday Ticket. This is not just another streaming service; it is the new face of US pay TV.”
YouTube TV is well aware of its dominant position in the American streaming marketplace, and used that leverage to strike an advantageous carriage deal with Disney this fall. The streamer is well-positioned to continue adding customers thanks to the announced launch of new genre packs that will give viewers lower-cost alternatives to its current all-in-one plan.
It’s already hard for live TV streaming services like DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV to compete with YouTube TV’s dominance, and according to Omdia’s forecasts, that dominance is just a fact of life that other streamers will have to accept. Even linear pay-TV companies will be forced to deal with it, as by 2027, YouTube TV will become the largest pay-TV distributor in the U.S.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.
