2025-2026 TV Price Increase
The 2025-2026 TV price increase spans most TV service providers. Live Streaming, Cable and Satellite will have the most expensive rates. So if you are a customer of Comcast Xfinity, DirecTV or Dish, you are seeing the high price increases for your channel bundles, plus channel blackouts. However Live Streaming TV providers are raising monthly prices too.
Unfortunately, TV subscription prices have been going up 10-15% per year for the past decade. For Cable & Satellite prices go up for all customers annually in September to December. Live Streaming TV providers sometimes change their prices sporadically throughout the year too.
We’ve compiled a recap of price increase announcements across all TV providers including Cable, Satellite and Live Streaming services. Our goal is to help you Cut The Cord and save the most money every month without sacrificing a great TV experience. Learn how to save money on Streaming Live TV.
Skip to:
- Xfinity | Dish | DirecTV
- YouTube TV | DirecTV Stream | Sling | Hulu Live | Fubo TV | Philo | Frndly | Hulu
Why do TV prices go up every year?
TV prices start with the TV content providers (broadcasters like CBS, FOX, Disney (including ABC, ESPN), NBCUniversal, etc.). And Pay TV providers (ex. Comcast Xfinity, DirecTV, Dish, Hulu Live, YouTube TV, etc.) pay to distribute that content in the form of re-transmission fees (aka broadcast & regional sports fees).
Content providers’ expenses rise as professional athletes’ salaries keep going up, actor fees, marketing and production costs of shows and movies are rising too. Bottom line: these expenses are passed directly to the consumer’s TV prices via fees. The Xfinity 2025 monthly price for the Broadcast TV Fee increased to $39 in the Denver Metro area. That is just 1 fee of many. Its now estimated that 40% of your Cable TV bill is fees?!?
Why Cable TV prices will keep rising
In short, Cable TV prices are never going back down, they will continue to exponentially increase like they have been for decades. Ongoing Cable TV price increases can be simplified into a math problem.
- TV content prices continue to rise, this is nothing new, its been happening for decades.
- 7 million people per year are Cutting The Cord and cancelling Cable or Satellite. This is new in the last 3-5 years and it’s getting worse year over year.
- Comcast Xfinity, DirecTV and Dish have a lot less subscribers in 2025 to pay for all of these ongoing TV content price increases – they have no choice but to increase prices for remaining customers. Sadly they do this with misinformation, bait and switch pricing, sneaky fees, along with channel blackouts. IF YOU DO NOTHING, THIS WILL GET WORSE!
Which TV channels are most expensive?
Local Networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX), RSNs, Cable Sports & Cable News (in this order) continue to be the most expensive channels. Repeatedly, disputes on the cost of these broadcast (aka re-transmission) fees result in permanent or temporary channel blackouts. Learn how to get live local network channels for Free.
Live TV Streaming Services are raising prices too
Some think that Live TV Streaming options like YouTube TV, Hulu Live, DirecTV Stream are the answer to save money. They are not. Any Live TV streaming service that has local channels is going to be more expensive. And since local networks are the most watched channels, they are also the most expensive channels. YouTube TV started at $35/mo, now its $83/mo. Logically in 2026 I would assume YouTube TV will be over $100 a month as well, Hulu Live already is… Learn how to save money on Streaming Live TV.
The FCC gives you Live Local Network TV for Free!
IMPORTANT: The FCC sponsored program and the Communications Act, protects consumers so that all major local network channels remain free via an Antenna. 80+ live local network channels are 100% free forever with a properly installed and configured whole home HD Antenna! StreamWise Solutions understands this, which is why we offer solutions that focus on maximum freedom, flexibility and savings.
Cable & Satellite 2025-2026 TV Price Increases
In January 2025, Comcast Xfinity raised TV prices by an average of 18%. January 2026 you can expect another $10-$20 per month price increase for all customers.
As of September 2025, Dish is raising prices by $5/month per package for the 2025 year. This is exactly the same thing they did in previous years.
In October 2025, DirecTV jacked up prices again. And DirecTV is going up as much as $10/mo. Add-ons are increasing. Also they have had 2 major blackouts this year too.
Live Streaming TV Provider 2025-2026 Price Increases
YouTube TV
Less than a year ago YouTube TV announced a price increase of $10/mo. to $83. The price increase started Dec 12, 2024 for new customers and went into effect Jan 13, 2025 for existing customers.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream increased prices by $10/mo. as of October 5, 2025. DTVS Entertainment & Choice bundles are expensive. Check out the DirecTV Stream Genre bundles starting at only $35/mo.
Fubo TV
fubo TV bumped prices by $5 in February 2025. Once you add on Regional Sports fees you will be paying over $100/mo. if you need full Altitude Sports for Avs and Nuggets.
Hulu Live
Hulu Live TV increased prices in October, 2025. Live (with ads) is up to $100/mo and without ads is up to $90/mo. Bundling Disney+ & ESPN+ helps a little, but it’s well over $100/mo.
Sling
On December 20 2024, Sling’s $6 price increase went into effect. Read more about the Sling TV price increase & alternatives. Sling does not include local network TV channels. Add Free Local channels with an Antenna!
Philo
Philo increased their price by $5/mo in October 2025. Sans Local Networks, Cable Sports and News, they have a much higher probability to keep that low price of only $33/mo. Add Free Local channels with an Antenna!
Frndly
Frndly hasn’t done any major changes to their channel lineup. We do not expect any major price increase in 2025/2026. They are the least expensive live TV service at $7/mo. Add Free Local channels with an Antenna!
Hulu Basic
The two basic Hulu packages (just on demand, no Live TV) also had price increases effective October 2025. Hulu with Ads is $12/mo. Hulu Ad-free subscription is $19 /mo. Basic Hulu is not recommended.
Other Streaming Price Increases
Pretty much all Streaming Services have raised prices at least once in 2025. So this means you can also expect them to have another price hike sometime again in 2026. Netflix, Prime, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, Max, Peacock, ESPN, etc all raised prices in the last 12 months. This is leading to a new level of people cutting out streaming subscriptions to save money. Learn how to save money on Streaming TV.
How to avoid 2025-2026 TV Price Increase
Before you endure another price increase, take back control over your provider(s). Hundreds of Live Cable and Local Network channels are available for as low as $0/ month when you incorporate a Whole Home HD Antenna with today’s F.A.S.T. providers and live streaming micro-bundles. Stacking Streaming services is not the answer. Learn how to save money on Streaming Live TV. Or better yet, save your time, money and sanity with the help of our Cord Cutting experts. The average StreamWise Solutions customer saves over $1,500 every year!
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