Cord-cutting stopped being a trend a while ago. It's now simply how America watches TV — and 2026 is the year the numbers got impossible to ignore.
The state of the exodus
- Pay TV penetration has dropped below 50% of U.S. households — down by more than a third since 2010.
- Streaming now accounts for nearly half of all TV viewing (47.5% per Nielsen), more than broadcast and cable combined.
- Among adults under 30, only 16% still pay for cable or satellite.
- More than 80 million U.S. households are expected to be cable-free by the end of 2026.
It's the bill
When researchers ask why people cut the cord, ~87% give the same answer: price. The average traditional cable TV bill has pushed past $100 a month before internet — box rentals, broadcast fees, regional sports fees, and the year-two price jump all stack on top of the advertised rate.
Compare that to the streaming route: fiber internet plus one live-TV service typically lands between $130–145 total — for faster internet than the cable bundle included, with no contract on either piece.
"But I'll lose my channels" — no, you won't
This is the myth that keeps people writing checks. Modern live-TV streaming services carry local stations, news, and sports:
- YouTube TV — 100+ channels, unlimited DVR, the cleanest cable replacement.
- Fubo — 185+ channels and the strongest regional sports coverage.
- Hulu + Live TV — 95+ channels with Disney+ and a huge on-demand library built in.
We compared all three — prices, DVR, streams, sports — on our Cut the Cord page.
The one requirement nobody should skip
Streaming households live on their internet connection. When live TV, gaming, and video calls all ride the same line, you want bandwidth, low latency, and no data caps — which is precisely the fiber profile. Do the internet first, then cancel cable. Start with your address.