2018 was a great year for cord cutting. New services launched and old services got even better. Now 2019 looks like it will be an even better year for cord cutting.
Today I want to look forward to 2019 and give five serious predictions and five out-there predictions that I think could happen. Do you have a prediction you want to add? Leave us a comment and let me know.
5 Realistic Predictions
#1 A Major Live TV Streaming Service Will Fail
There are way too many live TV streaming services for all of them to make it. We already have seen Amazon, Verizon, and Apple abandon plans to launch a live TV streaming service. CenturyLink has also shut down their service. With 20 live TV streaming services on the market, not all of them will make it including one major service that could shut down as soon as this year.
#2 NFL Sunday Ticket Streaming Online
We already know the NFL is in talks to pull their rights back from AT&T for NFL Sunday Ticket this spring. According to reports, NFL owners are looking at launching their own streaming services without the need for DIRECTV. Even if they decide to launch the service, it won’t go live in 2019 but we will learn about it in 2019.
#3 Disney Will Own 90% Or More of Hulu
Disney will soon own 60% of Hulu, but it is likely that Comcast will also sell their share to Disney to help cover the cost of their deal to buy Sky. It is also possible for the same reasons as Comcast that AT&T will sell their 10% share of Hulu to Disney.
#4 5G Slower Roll Out
Right now, the predictions are that half of the United States will be covered by 5G in 2020. Yet It is likely that—as with all technical and governmental issues—5G’s roll out will be slower than expected.
#5 Disney+ Will Be a Huge Success at the Start But Quickly Slow Down
Disney+ has a lot of hype right now to the point I worry it can never live up to everyone’s expectations. So many of our readers seem to expect Disney to offer everything Disney owns as part of the Disney+ subscriptions, but we already know that won’t happen.
I worry peoples’ expectations are so high that Disney+ will never be able to live up to the hype and people will walk away as they thought it would be better.
5 Way Out-There Predictions
#1 AT&T Will Sell Their Satellite Customers to DISH
AT&T seems to be sold on the idea that they want out of satellite TV. They seem so dedicated to this idea that I could see AT&T selling their satellite customers who won’t switch to streaming over to DISH. Although this may not happen in 2019, I do see this as very likely to happen in the next few years.
#2 Walmart Will Buy Roku
For years now there has been talk of Roku being for sale if the price is right. I want to make a prediction that Walmart will buy Roku. Walmart has the money and the desire to get into streaming as a way to fight back against Amazon. Buying Roku will give them a streaming player to build their new streaming service with.
Roku and Walmart also have a tight relationship that would make it a natural fit.
#3 Google Will Ditch Chromecast for Android TV
Right now, Google has two streaming players that do the same thing. I predict that Google will ditch Chromecast and replace it with an Android TV stick. (Remember Android TV also includes Chromecast built in.) Keep an eye out for a cheaper Android TV device coming this year that will replace the Chromecast.
#4 Samsung Will Sell a Roku TV
For years now, Samsung has been losing out on the lower end TV lines. Now when you think of Samsung you think of a very expensive high-end TV. I would not be surprised to see Samsung release a cheaper TV to take on the TCLs and Sharps of the world in the sub $1,000 line with Roku TV built in.
#5 Apple’s New Streaming Service Will Bomb
In 2019, Apple is expected to launch a streaming service, and it could very likely bomb. Why do I think this new service will fail? According to reports, Apple plans to launch their new streaming service only on Apple devices. I am not sure people will leave their Rokus and Fire TVs to buy a new Apple TV just to get Apple’s new streaming service.
If Apple fails to launch the service on Roku, Fire TV, and Android TV I don’t think they will have enough content at launch to make people switch and will result in lower subscriber numbers than expected.
There you go… my top 10 predictions for 2019. What would you add to this list? Leave me a comment and let me know.
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