Cable TV vs streaming costs in 2026 no longer has a clear winner. A November 5 2026 report from the Angus Reid Institute found that cord cutting is no longer clearly cheaper, and 40 percent of current cable subscribers in Canada now agree that traditional television is becoming a better deal than paying for several streaming subscriptions. In the United States, the median cable and satellite bill is 125 dollars a month including fees, while streaming households pay an average of 69 dollars a month across four paid services, plus home internet on top. The cheaper choice in 2026 depends on how many services you stack, whether you watch live sports, and what you pay for internet.
Quick Facts
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Canadian report | Angus Reid Institute, November 5 2026, survey of 1,806 Canadian adults, October 19 to 22 2026 |
| Canadians with at least one streaming service | 84 percent, unchanged from 2022 |
| Cancelled at least one service in the past six months | 37 percent, up from 32 percent four years ago |
| Cancelled multiple services | 17 percent, up from 8 percent four years ago |
| Canadians with cable or satellite TV | 50 percent, down from 71 percent in 2018 and 88 percent in 2012 |
| Cable subscribers who say the package is too expensive | 67 percent |
| Cable subscribers who say traditional TV is becoming a better deal | 40 percent |
| Sports streaming prices in Canada | DAZN 34.99 dollars a month, Sportsnet+ 34.99 dollars a month, TSN 29.99 dollars a month |
| Sports subscribers who say the cost is too expensive | 71 percent of DAZN subscribers, 63 percent of Sportsnet+ subscribers |
| Median US cable and satellite bill | 125 dollars a month including fees, doxo 2026 report |
| Average US streaming household spend | 69 dollars a month across four paid services, plus home internet, Deloitte survey |
| Hidden cable fees in the US | Fees add an average of 37 dollars a month, a 28 percent markup, Consumer Reports study of nearly 800 bills |
| Live TV streaming prices, checked October 2026 | YouTube TV 82.99 dollars, Hulu plus Live TV 99.99 dollars, Sling TV from 45.99 dollars, Philo 33 dollars |
| Eight-service ad-free streaming stack | 139.41 dollars a month, within four dollars of the inflation-adjusted 2016 cable bill of about 143 dollars, based on a 2016 average of 103.10 dollars |
What the Canadian Numbers Actually Show
The Angus Reid Institute report, published on November 5 2026, is based on an online survey of 1,806 Canadian adults carried out from October 19 to October 22 2026. Streaming has stopped growing in Canada. A total of 84 percent of Canadians subscribe to at least one streaming service, exactly the same share as in 2022. In the past six months, 37 percent cancelled at least one streaming service, up from 32 percent four years ago, and 17 percent cancelled multiple services, up from 8 percent four years ago.
Cable keeps shrinking, but it has not disappeared. Only 50 percent of Canadians now subscribe to cable or satellite TV, down from 71 percent in 2018 and 88 percent in 2012. Yet the report holds a twist. A total of 67 percent of current cable subscribers say their package is too expensive, and still 40 percent of them agree that traditional television is becoming a better deal than paying for multiple streaming subscriptions. Both views can be true at the same time. Cable can feel overpriced on its own, and still look reasonable next to a pile of separate streaming bills.
The United States Math: Cable Bills, Fees, and Streaming Stacks
According to the doxo 2026 report, the median cable and satellite bill in the United States is 125 dollars a month including fees. A Consumer Reports study of nearly 800 cable bills shows how large that gap can be. Fees add an average of 37 dollars a month, a markup of 28 percent.
On the streaming side, the Deloitte Digital Media Trends survey found that streaming households pay an average of 69 dollars a month across four paid services, plus home internet on top. That 69 dollar average is well below the 125 dollar cable median, which is why cutting the cord still looks like a saving for many households. The wider entertainment business is still growing as viewers spend more on home viewing, as our report on Sony Q2 profit jumping 45 percent while Nintendo earnings slide shows. Live TV prices, checked in October 2026, show how fast the total rises. YouTube TV costs 82.99 dollars a month, Hulu plus Live TV costs 99.99 dollars a month, Sling TV starts from 45.99 dollars a month, and Philo costs 33 dollars a month.
Live Sports Is Where the Savings Disappear
Sports streaming is the priciest pain point in the Canadian report. A total of 71 percent of DAZN subscribers say the monthly cost is too expensive, and 63 percent of Sportsnet+ subscribers say the same. Each service costs 34.99 dollars a month, while TSN costs 29.99 dollars a month. Those are single-service prices, and a sports fan who wants full coverage may need more than one of them. The math is blunt. DAZN at 34.99 dollars plus TSN at 29.99 dollars comes to 64.98 dollars a month for just two sports services, before any entertainment service is added. Add DAZN and Sportsnet+ together and the total is 69.98 dollars a month for sports alone.
Sports fans are the group most likely to find cable competitive again, because a cable package puts sports channels in one bill instead of three separate apps. That helps explain why 40 percent of cable subscribers now see traditional television as a better deal.
Who Still Saves by Cutting the Cord
Cutting the cord still saves money for viewers with light and simple habits. If you watch mostly on-demand shows and films, you do not need a live TV service at all. One or two on-demand services, chosen for the shows you actually watch, can cost far less than the 125 dollar median cable bill in the United States.
The saving grows if you rotate services instead of paying for all of them all year. The Canadian figures show that many viewers already do this, with 37 percent cancelling at least one service in the past six months. Subscribe to a service for a season of a show you love, cancel when it ends, and switch to the next service. A single must-watch show can keep a subscription alive for months, as the buzz around the new Harry Potter series shows, and our report on the Harry Potter Phelps twins and the HBO TV show group chat is a reminder of how one big title can drive sign-ups. The rule is simple. The fewer live channels and sports services you need, the more you save by cutting the cord.
Who May Be Better Off Keeping Cable or Picking One Live TV Service
Households that want everything are the ones most likely to lose money by cutting the cord. One analysis published on October 10 2026 put an eight-service ad-free stack at 139.41 dollars a month. That is within four dollars of the inflation-adjusted 2016 cable bill of about 143 dollars, based on the 2016 average of 103.10 dollars. In other words, a household that rebuilds the full cable lineup service by service can end up paying about the same as cable cost a decade ago, once inflation is counted.
For that kind of household, a single live TV service is often the neater choice. YouTube TV at 82.99 dollars a month or Hulu plus Live TV at 99.99 dollars a month gives live channels in one bill, with on-demand viewing included. Some viewers are also happy to watch big events on the big screen instead of paying for every service at home, and the cinema business is still drawing crowds for major releases, as our report on IMAX record Q3 revenue of 175 million dollars and Odyssey shows. The right choice depends on how you watch, not on which option is fashionable.
Is streaming still cheaper than cable in 2026?
Not always. Streaming households in the United States pay an average of 69 dollars a month across four paid services, plus home internet, against a median cable bill of 125 dollars a month including fees. That is a clear saving for light viewers.
How much does the average US cable bill cost?
According to the doxo 2026 report, the median cable and satellite bill in the United States is 125 dollars a month including fees. A Consumer Reports study of nearly 800 cable bills found that fees alone add an average of 37 dollars a month, a markup of 28 percent.
Why is sports streaming so expensive?
Sports rights cost a lot, and that cost is passed on to viewers. In Canada, DAZN and Sportsnet+ each cost 34.99 dollars a month, and TSN costs 29.99 dollars a month. A total of 71 percent of DAZN subscribers and 63 percent of Sportsnet+ subscribers say the monthly cost is too expensive.
How can I lower my TV bill without losing the shows I watch?
List what you watch each week and cancel any service you have not opened in the past month. Rotate services so you pay for one at a time while you watch its best shows, then switch. Consider a cheaper live option such as Philo at 33 dollars or Sling TV from 45.99 dollars.
Sources
- Angus Reid Institute: Cord-cutting conundrum, streaming costs rise, cancellations mount, but cable continues its long decline
- CableCompare: Cable TV vs streaming costs
- Ommais: Streaming price hikes and cord cutting, October 10 2026
Final Thoughts
Cable TV vs streaming costs in 2026 is a close call, not a clear win for either side. In Canada, 84 percent of people still use streaming, but 37 percent cancelled at least one service in the past six months, and only 50 percent still pay for cable. In the United States, a median cable bill of 125 dollars a month including fees is still more than the 69 dollar average streaming spend across four services, but fees of 37 dollars a month on cable and the rising cost of sports apps and live TV packages close the gap fast. Count your own services, include internet and fees, and pick the setup that fits what you actually watch.
