This year, there will be more than 22 million cord-cutters and 34 million cord-nevers in the U.S., according to the latest data from eMarketer.
I'm not surprised. I chronicle the ever-changing TV landscape. And since the birth of this column, we've seen the cable alternative market mature to the point where broadcast networks and cloud DVRs are the new normal for streaming live TV providers.
Every passing month brings with it a number of new developments, and September is certainly no exception. What follows are some of the latest developments in the land of the cord-cutters.
DIRECTV NOW HAS CBS _ KIND OF
AT&T's streaming TV service, DirecTV Now, is filling a big hole with the long-awaited addition of CBS stations. However, access to CBS is currently limited to customers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and nine other metros.
AT&T says it's working to add local CBS affiliates elsewhere, so if you can wait a little bit longer for that, as well as a promised cloud DVR, then DirecTV Now might be worth checking out.
The product is a decent option for the would-be cord-cutter who wants a very cable-like experience or the AT&T wireless customer looking for a deal. Plans start at $35 a month (or $10 if you have an AT&T unlimited data plan), but regional sports networks are only available at the $50 level.
There's also this: DirecTV Now customers everywhere can now opt to stream Showtime for just $8 extra a month. Other providers charge about $11 a month for streaming access to the CBS-owned premium channel.
HULU WITH LIVE TV NOW ON ROKU
This month, Hulu with Live TV was finally made available on the leading stream media player. The new Roku app means the company's skinny bundle can be viewed across most platforms.
As a refresher, for $40 a month, Hulu's version of the cable bundle comes with about 50 channels and access to the streaming service's standard library of on-demand material.
Sports fans also get CBS Sports Network, FOX Sports and several ESPN stations. Yet, an included cloud-based DVR is really only functional _ meaning you actually fast-forward through ads _ when you pay $15 more a month for the enhanced cloud DVR.
It's hardly the best deal in town, but Hulu with Live TV could be the right fit for existing fans of Hulu's classic offering, sports fans or those looking to add a splash of color to their TV browsing experience.
ROKU WANTS TO IPO
Speaking of Roku, the streaming media device-maker has begun the process of transitioning from a privately held company to a publicly traded one. In its recent prospectus, the company disclosed that it has more than 15 million active accounts and makes an average of $11.22 per user. Its users also streamed 6.7 billion hours of material through Roku sticks, boxes and TVs in the first half of the year.
Even still, Roku is losing money _ it lost more than $24 million in the first six months of 2017. Even though it's cracked the code on streaming attention, the internet company hasn't managed to capitalize on that attention.
The plan? Roku believes that, even though the bulk of internet-based streaming TV revenue comes from subscriptions, advertising revenue is the key to unlocking more money. Roku currently sells video ads, which are inserted into programs it has access to through content distribution deals.
The ad plan explains, in part, the newly launched Roku Channel, which includes a rotating selection of films from studio partners. The channel is free for viewers, but obviously bank-rolled by ads, though the firm promises "approximately half the advertising per programming hour as compared to traditional ad-supported linear TV."
