The cable television landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation as cord-cutting accelerates and streaming services continue their rise to dominance. Many cable networks are facing an uncertain future, with some forced to make drastic changes or face a potential shutdown. This comes as reports are out that cable TV networks could lose up to 20 million subscribers over the next few years, pushing some networks to be forced to shut down. It also comes as reports are coming out that Paramount is considering shutting down MTV.
At the same time, Warner Bros. Discovery has put its cable TV networks up for sale as part of its auction to sell all or part of its company.
With all of this happening, here’s a look at some of the most vulnerable networks as of January 2026:
Fanduel Sports Networks:
Fanduel Sports Networks are reportedly running out of money, and their deal to sell to DAZN is reportedly not going to happen. MLB teams have also reportedly broken their contract with FanDuel Sports Network, leaving the future dim for the network.
MTV Channels:
- Consolidation and Decline: Paramount may consolidate smaller MTV channels, like MTV2 and MTV Classic, into MTV and Paramount+ as the younger audience increasingly migrates to online services. The shutdown of MTV News last year further signals the challenges faced by the MTV brand.
- Paramount is facing a need to cut costs right now and that could put many MTV channels on the chopping block.
This all comes as Paramount canceled several awards show they are running and are getting funding to finish up coming movies. Also as reports are out that Paramount is considering shutting down all of its cable networks and making it a digital only brand.
Teen Nick
Ratings Drop: In 2024, Teen Nick saw some of the biggest drops in TV ratings of all cable TV networks. Once again, it saw a ratings drop in 2025. After seeing viewership drop 25% in 2025 vs 2024 the network is now ranked just 135 out of 153 in primetime.
As teens ditch traditional TV, look for Teen Nick to be a prime target to be cut.
Cartoon Network
Recently, Cartoon Network has seen its viewership drop. DirecTV did not include it in its new $34.99 entertainment package but did include Adult Swim. Sling TV is also removing it from the Sling Orange package and moving it to a more expensive package. Comcast has also removed Cartoon Network from its core packages moving it to an add-on only package.
Keep an eye for Warner Bros. Discovery to repurpose this channel or get rid of it.
Boomerang:
Facing Competition: Warner Bros. Discovery, the owner of Boomerang, is parnered with MeTV to launch MeTV Toons, a free, over-the-air channel featuring classic cartoons, many of which were previously shown on Boomerang. This direct competition, coupled with declining viewership, puts Boomerang’s future in question.
Recently news broke that Warner Bros. Discovery will be spinning off its cable TV networks. With this and the growth of MeTV Toons it makes the need for Boomerang to drop even faster. Making this network our new most likely network to be shutdown in 2025.
Disney XD
- Ratings Drop: In 2024, Disney XD saw its ratings drop by 44% vs 2023, according to a report from Variety. This leaves many to wonder what the future of the channel is. During primetime, just 18,000 people watch Disney XD, making it the 142 most watched network out of 153.
- Changing Viewership Haabbits: Kids channels are some of the most impacted by the growth of streaming. Most kids now don’t watch cable TV networks, instead focusing on YouTube Kids or streaming services.
Because of all of this, Disney XD is one of the most vulnerable networks right now in 2025.
Disney Jr:
- Ratings: Much like Disney XD, ratings for Disney Jr. have dropped 37% in 2024. During primetime only 73,000 people on average watched Disney Jr. In 2024 Disney Jr. was the 96th most watch TV network out of 153 ranked by Variety but its ratings drop 13% in 2025.
As kids increasingly move to apps like Disney+, networks like Disney Jr are being hit hard. Look for these networks to be some of the most likely to shut down in 2024.
Nick Jr.
- Budget Cuts: For some time now Paramount has been making budget cuts as it deals with the growing and it has been reported that cuts to its cable networks could be possible after its merger with Skydance.
- Ratings Drop: In 2025, Nick Jr. saw its ratings drop 15% vs the same time in 2024, with just 58,000 people watching it.
With Paramount+ push to grow its Paramount+ streaming service, look for Nick Jr. to be a prime target to be cut to push parents to subscribe to Paramount+ for this content.
National Geographic Wild
Ratings: The channel is also known as Nat Geo Wild, and in 2025 saw its ratings drop 20%. This comes as Disney has been pushing Disney+ with all of that, Nat Geo Wild is now the 50 th-ranked primetime channel out of 153.
BET Networks:
- Financial Challenges: After a failed attempt to sell BET and its associated networks, Paramount is reportedly seeking a buyer once again. If a sale doesn’t materialize, some of the less profitable BET networks, such as BET Her, BET Hip-Hop, and BET Soul, could face closure.
- There are also questions over how dedicated the soon-to-be new owners of Paramount would be to their cable networks.
Evolving Landscape:
The cable television industry finds itself immersed in a profound period of transformation and uncertainty, as traditional broadcast networks grapple with rapidly shifting consumer preferences and the unstoppable momentum of on-demand streaming platforms. Viewers are increasingly abandoning expensive bundled packages in favor of more flexible, affordable, and personalized entertainment options, a trend widely known as cord-cutting that has accelerated dramatically over the past decade. This mass exodus has placed enormous financial pressure on once-dominant cable channels, many of which now face dwindling advertising revenue, shrinking subscriber bases, and mounting operational costs that are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
Ultimately, the turmoil roiling cable television serves as a powerful illustration of the broader volatility characterizing today’s media environment. In an age where attention is the most valuable currency and technological advancement never pauses, every player in the industry must embrace continuous evolution. For traditional cable networks, survival in this streaming-dominated future will depend less on clinging to past successes and more on bold reinvention, creative risk-taking, and a genuine understanding of what modern audiences truly want from their viewing experiences. The coming years will likely separate the adaptable from the obsolete, reshaping the television landscape in ways that are both challenging and full of possibility.
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