Cable Networks and Video Streaming – 2026 U.S. Market Research Report

Published: September 2026
Updated Recession Risk Analysis & Forecasts

The Cable Networks and Video Streaming segment has experienced -1.9% annual decline over the past three years, contracting to $87.3 billion in 2025. This evolving category reflects the challenging transition as traditional cable networks face subscriber erosion while developing direct-to-consumer streaming alternatives. Programmers have navigated this transformation through content investment, distribution model evolution, and operational restructuring while developing sophisticated audience measurement capabilities and advanced advertising solutions that address evolving viewer engagement patterns. Cord-cutting acceleration, content cost inflation, and streaming competition intensity create significant headwinds despite quality programming and brand strength supporting the transition to new distribution models.

Cable Networks Video Streaming Industry Market Research Report

100% Moneyback Guarantee
Kentley Insights Guarantee

Cable Networks and Video Streaming Industry Definition


This industry includes companies providing programming through subscription-based models. Core activities include producing specialized content, operating distribution networks, managing subscriber relationships, developing programming packages, and reaching targeted audiences. These businesses deliver content through direct consumer payment models. They create or acquire programming for distribution through cable systems, satellites, or internet platforms rather than over-the-air broadcasting, developing focused content brands that generate revenue through subscription fees, often with narrower content focus than general broadcasting.

Cable television networks : Networks, cable television : Pay television networks : Pay-per-view cable programming : Satellite television networks : Specialty television (e.g., music, sports, news) cable networks : Subscription television networks : Television subscription services

Cable Networks and Video Streaming Industry Statistics


This market research report utilizes the most extensive set of business surveys as the foundation for over 100 market research data sets with extensive historical data (2017-2025), statistics, trend analysis, and forecasts for 2026 & the next 5 years.

This report includes market size, growth, sales & cost trends, industry dynamics, operating expenses for 26 categories, profitability, employee productivity, 10 financial ratios, 31 balance sheet metrics, extensive statistics by state and Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSAs), workforce composition statistics, market share for top 50 companies, inflation, payroll and pay range data on 46 jobs, product line breakdown, industry data sets segmented by business size, concentration, and business structure, and much more.

Below are a few of the statistics included in this extensive 78-page market research report:


MARKET SIZE
In 2025, industry revenue was $87.3 billion

NUMBER OF COMPANIES
There are 403 companies in the industry

MARKET GROWTH
The 5-year annual growth rate averaged 0.9%

MARKET SHARE
The top 4 companies have 62.2% market share

REVENUE PER LOCATION
The average sales per location is $117.6 million

INFLATION & PRICING
Over the past 5 years, inflation averaged 1.9%

FINANCIAL METRICS
For unprofitable firms, the avg. net loss is -23.2%

EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY
Revenue per employee is $1,533,496

OPERATING EXPENSE BENCHMARKS
1.4% of expenses is spent on professional services

PAY BENCHMARKS
In 2025, avg. pay per employee was $160,924

ORGANIZATIONAL BENCHMARKS
9.5% of employees are in business ops & finance

JOB PAY RANGES
The avg. hourly pay for finance jobs is $45.35


Instantly download the 2026 Cable Networks and Video Streaming U.S. Market Research Report to access over 100 data sets on the industry.


Cable Networks and Video Streaming Report Format


The 2026 Cable Networks and Video Streaming Market Research Report is 78 pages of extensive data, trends, forecasts, benchmarks, analysis, and charts on the industry. Below are select page images from the report and scroll further down for the table of contents and a sample of the report.

Cable Networks Video Streaming Revenue

Cable Networks Video Streaming OPEX Expenses

Cable Networks Video Streaming Profit

Cable Networks Video Streaming BCG Matrix

Cable Networks Video Streaming State Sales

Cable Networks Video Streaming Benchmarks


Sample Report


Download the full sample report below. The Cable Networks and Video Streaming Market Research Report will have the same format and data sets.

Kentley Insights Services Sample Report

Table of Contents – Cable Networks and Video Streaming Report


1-2 Report Overview & Table of Contents

3 Industry Overview
– Methodology
– Industry Definition & Examples
– Market Commentary

4 Industry Snapshot – Revenue & Growth

5 Industry Snapshot – Costs & Profitability

Section One
REVENUE & GROWTH BENCHMARKS

7 Industry Growth Details
– Industry Revenues
– Number of Companies & Locations
– 2017-2030 Trends & Forecasts

8 Growth Benchmarks
– Revenues per Company & Locations
– Locations per Company
– 2017-2030 Trends & Forecasts

9 Breakdown of Product Lines
– Percentage of Revenue from Product Lines

10 BCG Income vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
– Service Subsectors vs. Industry

11 Total Revenue by Industry Segments
– Concentration (Top 4, next 4, next 12, next 30 largest companies)
– Business Size (1-4 employees, 5-9 employees, 10-19, 20-49, 50-99, 100-249, 250+)
– Business Structure (C-Corporations, S-Corporations, Partnerships, Sole Proprietorships)
– Franchise Segments

12 Total Revenue per State
– Revenue per State and State Rankings

13 Sales per Capita by State

14-17 Revenue per Metropolitan Statistical Area

18-21 Revenue per Capita per Metropolitan Statistical Area

22 Revenue per Company by Industry Segment
– Concentration, Business Size, & Business Structure

23 Revenue per Location by Industry Segment
– Concentration, Size, Structure, & Franchise

24 Revenue per Location by State
– Revenue per Location and State Rankings

25-28 Revenue per Location per MSA

29 Industry Segmentation by Business Size

30 Industry Consolidation Analysis
– By Business Size Segments
– Revenue, Companies, Locations & Employees
– 2020 vs. 2025 by Business Size

31 Industry Consolidation Benchmarks

32 Industry Segmentation by Top 50 Companies
– Segments include top 4, next 4, next 12, next 30, and top 50 companies by revenue
– Revenue, Locations, Employees & Payroll

33 Sector Concentration Benchmarks
– % of Sector Revenue from the Top 50 Companies for 12 Sectors

34 Industry Segmentation by Business Structure
– Revenue, Companies, Locations, Employees & Payroll

35 Pricing & Inflation
– 2017-2030 Trends & Forecasts
– Monthly Inflation Figures for the Past 4 Years

36 Service Subsector Growth
– Revenue and 5-Year CAGR for 12 Subsectors

37 Service Subsector Analysis
– Revenue per Company & Location

38 Service Subsector Analysis
– Revenue & Payroll per Employee

SECTION TWO
COST & FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

40 Profitability & Financial Ratio Analysis
– Percent of Companies that are Profitable
– Average Net Income as a Percent of Revenue
– Financial Ratios – 10 ratios, such as Total Asset
Turnover, Assets to Liabilities, Return on
Net Worth, Solvency Ratio

41 Balance Sheet Benchmarks
– Assets and Liabilities indexed to industry revenue at 100
– Current & Non-Current Assets
– Short-term, Long-term Liabilities, & Net Worth

42 Operating Expenses
– 2017-2030 Trends & Forecasts

43 Operating Expenses by Company & Location
– Operating Expenses per Company & Location
– 2017-2030 Trends & Forecasts

44 Operating Expense Detail
– Employee Expenses: Annual Payroll, Health Insurance, Defined Benefit Pension Plans, Defined Contribution Plans, Other Fringe Benefits, Contract Labor Costs, Incl. Temporary Help
– Property Expenses: Lease and Rent for Buildings, Offices, Stores, Repairs and Maintenance to Buildings, Purchased Electricity, Purchased Fuels (except motor fuels), Water, Sewer, Refuse, Other Utility Payments
– Equipment Expenses: Expensed Equipment: Lease and Rent for Machinery and Equip., Repairs, Maint. to Machinery and Equip., Depreciation and Amortization Charges, Other Materials, Parts, and Supplies
– IT Expenses: Data Processing & Other Computer Services: Communication Services: Expensed Purchases of Software
– Miscellaneous Expenses: Advertising and Promotional Services, Professional and Technical Services, Taxes and License Fees

45 Productivity & Industry Employment
– Revenue per Employee
– Total Industry Employees
– Employees per Company
– 2017-2030 Trends & Forecasts

46 Employee Productivity by Segments

47 Employee Productivity by State

48-51 Employee Productivity per MSA

52 Industry Payroll
– Payroll per Employee, Company & Location
– 2017-2030 Trends & Forecasts

53 Workforce Composition Benchmarks
– 26 Job Categories
– Management & Finance
– Sales & Marketing
– Technology, Engineering, Science
– Service, Support & Training
– Operations
– Percent of Industry Employees

54 Job Categorization Pay Ranges
– 26 Job Categories
– Pay Bands – Bottom 10% & 25%, Mean, Top 25% & 10%
– Pay Bands (10%, 25%, Mean, 75%, 90%)

55 Top 20 Jobs Breakdown
– Percent of Total Employees by Job
– Rank Ordered by Top 20 Job Categories

56 Pay Ranges of Top 20 Jobs

57 Payroll per Company by Segments

58 Payroll per Location by Segments

59 Payroll per Employee by Segments

60 Payroll per Employee by State

61-64 Payroll per Employee per MSA

65 Employees per Company by Segments
– Concentration, Business Size, & Business Structure

66 Employees per Company by Segments
– Concentration, Business Size, Structure, & Franchise

67 Total Employment by State

68 Population to Every Employee by State

69-72 Total Employment per MSA

73 Locations per Company by Segments

74-77 Locations per MSA

78 About Kentley Insights


Report & Industry Details


NAICS Code: 515210

Number of Pages: 78

Format: PDF

Price: $295

Support Contact: Email us at support@kentleyinsights.com or call us at 1-800-613-3611

Key Questions Answered in this Market Research Report


How do professionals use this report?
Professionals utilize this report for industry research, market sizing and evaluation, forecasting, strategic planning, sales & marketing strategy, due diligence, valuations, benchmarking, streamlining, and other analyses.

What is the market size of the cable networks and video streaming industry?
This report covers the historical industry market size (2017-2025), and forecasts for 2026 and the next 5 years. This report also includes market share of the top 50 companies.

What is the outlook for the industry?
This report has dozens of market forecasts (2025 & 5 years) on total sales, companies, employees, productivity, inflation, compensation, operating expense, and others.

What industry analysis/data exists for the industry?
This report covers over 100+ data sets on the cable networks and video streaming industry. Check out the table of contents for all the data sets and analyses.

What segmentations are there on the cable networks and video streaming industry?
This report segments the industry many ways including by business size, concentration (Top 50 companies), business structure, state, MSAs, and product lines.

What are the financial metrics for the industry?
This report covers many financial metrics for the industry including profitability, growth, opex / revenue, 31 balance sheet items organized by liabilities, assets, and equity, and 10 financial metrics including return on sales, asset turnover, liability ratio, and net worth ratio.

What are important benchmarks for the industry?
Some of the most important benchmarks for the industry include market share, sales growth, employee productivity, operating expense breakdown, product line breakdown, span of control, and organizational composition. This report includes all of them and many more.



Cable Networks and Video Streaming Product Lines Analyzed


Licensing of rights to exhibit, broadcast, or rent audiovisual works protected by copyright
Television air time for advertising
Public and non-commercial programming services, television
Video and audio programming package, on-demand, and streaming distribution services
Internet advertising
Television air time for programs
Licensing of rights to use intellectual property protected by copyright, excluding audiovisual works and musical compositions and recordings
Retail sales of other goods, not elsewhere classified
Sporting event broadcast and other media rights

Industry Jobs Analyzed


Customer Service Representatives
Radio and Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers
Actors, Producers, and Directors
Software and Web Developers, Programmers, and Testers
Miscellaneous Sales Representatives, Services
Database and Network Administrators and Architects
Line Installers and Repairers
Computer Support Specialists
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Television, Video, and Film Camera Operators and Editors
Computer and Information Systems Managers
General and Operations Managers
Writers and Editors
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Marketing and Sales Managers
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Advertising Sales Agents
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Computer and Information Analysts

States Covered


California
Colorado
District of Columbia
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) Covered


Asheville, NC
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Bakersfield, CA
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Barnstable Town, MA
Baton Rouge, LA
Bellingham, WA
Billings, MT
Birmingham-Hoover, AL
Bismarck, ND
Boise City, ID
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
Burlington-South Burlington, VT
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Chattanooga, TN-GA
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Cleveland-Elyria, OH
Columbus, OH
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Dayton, OH
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Duluth, MN-WI
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Eau Claire, WI
El Centro, CA
Gettysburg, PA
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
Greenville, NC
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT
Homosassa Springs, FL
Houma-Thibodaux, LA
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
Huntsville, AL
Iowa City, IA
Jacksonville, FL
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
Kingston, NY
Knoxville, TN
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Manchester-Nashua, NH
Memphis, TN-MS-AR
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Michigan City-La Porte, IN
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Monroe, LA
Napa, CA
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
New Haven-Milford, CT
New Orleans-Metairie, LA
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
Oklahoma City, OK
Olympia-Tumwater, WA
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
Panama City, FL
Peoria, IL
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsfield, MA
Portland-South Portland, ME
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Prescott, AZ
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
Provo-Orem, UT
Raleigh, NC
Reading, PA

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA
St. Louis, MO-IL
Salem, OR
Salisbury, MD-DE
Salt Lake City, UT
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Santa Fe, NM
Santa Rosa, CA
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Spartanburg, SC
Springfield, MA
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Texarkana, TX-AR
Trenton, NJ
Tulsa, OK
Urban Honolulu, HI
Valdosta, GA
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
Waco, TX
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH
Worcester, MA-CT
York-Hanover, PA


About Kentley Insights


Kentley Insights is the leader in data-rich market research with coverage of over 1200 industries and 2000 product lines. All the top consulting firms, banks, accounting firms, private equity firms, and many of the Fortune 1000 depend on Kentley Insights for their in-depth market research needs. There is a reason why we are the only market research firm to offer a 100% Moneyback Guarantee.