YouTube TV will surpass Charter and Comcast in 2027 because its growth is fueled by the accelerating shift from traditional cable toward flexible, digital first pay TV.
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Latest forecasts from Omdia show YouTube TV will be reaching 10.4 million subscribers in 2027, ahead of Charter at 10.0 million and Comcast at 9.2 million. This momentum is driven by a combination of product strength, platform scale, and changing consumer behavior.
As of the end of 2025, the US pay TV market remains dominated by Charter and Comcast, with YouTube TV closing the gap quickly:
Charter: 11.4 million subscribers
Comcast: 10.6 million subscribers
YouTube TV: 9.3 million subscribers
By 2027, Omdia forecasts a major reshuffling of market leadership:
YouTube TV: 10.4 million subscribers
Charter: 10.0 million subscribers
Comcast: 9.2 million subscribers
YouTube TV has evolved into a full pay TV bundle that mirrors and often enhances traditional cable packages, Maria Rua Aguete, Head of Media and Entertainment at Omdia, said. Its base plan, priced at around eighty three dollars per month, delivers more than one hundred channels, unlimited cloud DVR, personalized profiles, and optional upgrades such as sports add ons, 4K content, and premium networks. While the service is not inexpensive, its simplicity, no equipment requirement, and consistent user experience across devices make it more appealing than cable offerings that involve set top boxes, installation, and additional fees.
Charter and Comcast still operate in a space where customer bills frequently rise due to broadcast fees, regional sports surcharges, and equipment rentals. Even though entry level packages at Charter may start around $40 per month and Comcast around $35 – $70, the final monthly cost often climbs above $100 for many subscribers. This widening gap between advertised and actual pricing continues to push consumers toward streaming based pay TV options like YouTube TV.
YouTube TV’s subscriber growth also benefits from the broader strength of the YouTube platform. With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, YouTube remains the largest video ecosystem in the world, far surpassing subscription services like Netflix, which may reach about 300 million users globally.
This scale gives YouTube an unmatched ability to market, cross promote, and integrate services, creating a funnel that no traditional pay TV operator can replicate. Its control of both a global video platform and a growing pay TV service allows YouTube to shape viewer habits, ad strategies, and content distribution in ways cable companies cannot.
Omdia’s research shows a US streaming landscape that is large but fragmented, with no single platform dominating attention or subscriptions. This environment favors hybrid services that blend linear channels, premium networks, live sports, user generated video, and on demand content. YouTube TV fits this model precisely. Its rights to major sports properties such as NFL Sunday Ticket have accelerated its transition from a streaming alternative to a mainstream pay TV centerpiece.
Consolidation pressures are reshaping the entertainment industry, with major players seeking scale and premium intellectual property. As companies like Warner and Paramount become strategic targets, YouTube’s position looks even stronger, backed by both global reach and a growing domestic pay TV base.
Omdia’s data shows that the US streaming market remains broad, fragmented, and highly competitive. Even as the leading subscription service, Netflix represents 15.7 percent of total US SVOD subscriptions.
US Streaming Leaders in 2025 (Omdia forecast):
Netflix: 88.7 million subscribers
Amazon Prime Video: 64.7 million
Disney+: 55.8 million
Paramount+: 49.4 million
HBO Max: 29.7 million
Omdia’s research highlights an industry shift toward hybrid models that combine linear TV, premium networks, live sports, user generated content, and on demand programming. With YouTube TV set to lead US pay TV and YouTube already commanding the world’s largest video audience, the platform represents the direction in which the market is moving.
Omdia also pointed to ongoing consolidation pressures in the media and entertainment sector, noting strong industry interest in Warner assets.
“Paramount and Warner remain two of the most strategically valuable assets in Hollywood. Interest from players such as Netflix or Paramount reflects the growing need for scale, premium IP, and global distribution,” Rua Aguete said.
By 2027, YouTube TV’s combination of digital convenience, strong channel lineup, sports rights, and the unmatched reach of the broader YouTube platform positions it to overtake Charter and Comcast. Its rise signals a new era in the US pay TV market where virtual operators lead, and traditional cable companies face continued subscriber erosion.
Baburajan Kizhakedath