Streaming in 2026: higher prices, more bundling and less risky content

Subscribers should expect streaming services to feel less infinite in 2026 as companies push price increases, ad tiers, and bundled offerings to shore up revenue. Rising content and licensing costs make broad price plateaus unlikely. Companies are more likely to raise fees for ad-free plans or charge premiums for features like 4K, simultaneous streams, or offline downloads rather than raise every tier across the board.

Analysts say subscription options will become "more menu-like next year," with services using ad-supported tiers and premium add-ons to drive revenue while trying to avoid mass cancellations. Price hikes will probably continue until cancellations or slower subscriber growth force a pullback.

Some experts compare the trend to cable pricing and say only regulation would rein in increases, though lawmakers have mostly focused on consolidation rather than price control; there has been limited legislative effort such as the proposed Price Gouging Prevention Act. Bundling will intensify as companies tie streaming to pay TV, internet, or phone plans and to other services, making it harder for consumers to prune subscriptions and echoing cable-era packages.

Major merger activity adds uncertainty. Warner Bros.

Key Topics

Tech, United States, Streaming, Subscriptions, Bundles, Media Mergers, Content