YouTube TV is the fastest-growing live TV streaming service. In 2023, YouTube TV added 1.9 million new subscribers. This is more than all of the subscribers Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and Fubo added in 2023 combined, according to the Leichtman Research Group.
Not only did YouTube TV add 1.9 million subscribers but that was more than ten times the number of subscribers the next three largest live TV streaming services added in 2023. Combined Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and Fubo lost 6,000 subscribers in 2023.
What does this mean for the future of YouTube TV? Let’s look at what may happen next.
Recently MoffettNathanson, a well-respected research group, has released a report saying YouTube TV is on track to add 1.5 million new subscribers per year. According to NextTV, MoffettNathanson expects YouTube TV to become the largest provider of live TV in the United States. This would make YouTube TV larger than Comcast, Spectrum, DIRECTV, and DISH.
Even more important: YouTube TV is expected to break even in 2024, and YouTube TV will reach $600 million in net income in 2026, according to the MoffettNathanson report.
How will YouTube TV continue to grow at this rate when so many are struggling? Reportedly YouTube TV plans to continue to lean into sports. There have been multiple reports that Google has been bidding on getting rights to different sports streaming deals that could be used similarly to NFL Sunday Ticket to help grow YouTube TV.
Increasingly, the only thing cord cutters want from a live TV streaming service is sports and YouTube TV hopes to build a package of channels that attracts sports fans at a price they are willing to pay.
Sadly, YouTube TV can’t afford all sports and for now MLB is one they have decided to pass on because of high costs versus the viewership that they bring in. Instead, it’s focusing on football with deals for NFL Sunday Ticket to attract millions of new subscribers.
What is next for YouTube TV? YouTube TV has been working on improving picture quality and reducing the delay in stream from what is happening live to when you see it to as low as 30 seconds with its new settings. A last channel button has also been added.
We expect YouTube TV to continue to lean into sports and new features to make watching sports easier in 2024. For now, the live TV service that will become the most popular is the one that can attract sports fans.
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