This Week in Streaming
By EverythingStreaming Staff | Wednesday, July 29, 2026
It’s now official: streaming commands nearly half of all TV viewing in America, and the cable world is feeling every tremor. This week alone, a major satellite internet provider inched toward bankruptcy, Dish handed off its wireless spectrum, and Spectrum pushed through yet another price hike — while Netflix locked in an NFL Hall of Famer, HBO Max went full TikTok, and Disney quietly announced it’s absorbing Hulu entirely. Oh, and Onn devices started blocking VPNs, and the Nvidia Shield may have quietly ridden off into the sunset. It’s a packed week — buckle in.
📺 Streaming Service News
- Streaming hits 48.6% of all U.S. TV viewing — Nielsen’s latest Gauge report (May 2026) shows streaming now outpaces cable (20.4%) and broadcast (19.2%) combined. YouTube leads all services at 13.8%, followed by Netflix at 8.0% and Disney at 4.9%. (CordCuttersNews)
- HBO Max launches “Shorts” and new mobile features — The streamer introduced TikTok-style vertical video clips pulled from its library, designed to help subscribers discover shows and movies. (CordCuttersNews)
- Netflix taps Luke Kuechly as its top NFL analyst — As Netflix deepens its NFL partnership, the Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker is reportedly joining as the streaming giant’s lead game analyst. (CordCuttersNews)
- ESPN adds Steve Smith Sr. amid ongoing overhaul — Just one week after a painful round of layoffs, ESPN continued its talent reshaping as it integrates NFL Network operations. (CordCuttersNews)
- Disney+ to absorb Hulu — standalone app being phased out — Disney has begun rolling out Hulu Live TV features directly inside Disney+, with initial testing underway for select subscribers. The standalone Hulu app is expected to be gradually phased out. (CordCuttersNews)
- Google adds 60+ free live TV channels to Google Freeplay — Google TV device owners got a major freebie this week: more than 60 ad-supported live channels added to the built-in Google Freeplay section. No subscription required. (CordCuttersNews)
- Tubi drops its August 2026 content preview — Fox’s free streamer is loading up next month with a new original reality dating show (Why Are You Single) plus movies and originals. (CordCuttersNews)
📦 App & Device Updates
- Onn streaming devices now block VPNs during setup — Walmart’s budget streamers have tightened regional restrictions, now detecting and blocking VPN connections during initial setup. (AFTVNews)
- BBC iPlayer to block uncertified Android/Google TV devices Sept. 30 — Devices not officially certified by the BBC will be cut off entirely on September 30, 2026. (AFTVNews)
- Walmart pulls Onn HD Streaming Stick from its website — The entry-level Onn HD Stick has quietly vanished from Walmart’s site — likely to make way for a new replacement model that recently cleared FCC approval. (AFTVNews)
- Nvidia Shield TV tube model appears discontinued — The Shield Pro remains available, but the original tube design is gone from shelves. (AFTVNews)
- Trakt limits free users to one connected streaming service — Free accounts can now only connect a single streaming service; more connections require a paid subscription. (TroyPoint)
✂️ Cord-Cutting & vMVPD Roundup
- Spectrum rolls out a $10/month internet price hike — Spectrum has implemented a $10 monthly increase across many of its broadband tiers. (CordCuttersNews)
- HughesNet parent EchoStar heading for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — Hughes Network Systems is preparing to file Chapter 11 to manage a $1.5 billion debt maturity due August 1st. (CordCuttersNews)
- Dish completes spectrum sale to AT&T — EchoStar has officially closed its deal to offload DISH’s wireless spectrum licenses to AT&T. (CordCuttersNews)
- YouTube TV adds ESPN Unlimited tier — Subscribers are getting access to an expanded ESPN Unlimited add-on for broader ESPN live content. (CordCuttersNews)
- Roku bug breaks antenna TV on affected models — A software update has disrupted over-the-air antenna viewing on some Roku TVs; Roku says a fix is in progress. (CordCuttersNews / r/cordcutters)
- NFL hit with patent lawsuit over streaming video casting tech — A federal judge in New York has allowed a patent infringement case against the NFL’s media arm to proceed. (CordCuttersNews)
🔧 Tips & How-Tos This Week
- Watch out for the 3 most common Roku scams — Cord Cutters News flagged the top scams currently targeting Roku TV and Roku Player owners — including fake support calls and phishing pages. Worth a read before you click anything suspicious. (CordCuttersNews)
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🎯 That’s a Wrap
From bankruptcy filings and billion-dollar spectrum sales to $14.99 Fire TV deals and TikTok-style clips on HBO Max, this week was a masterclass in just how fast the streaming world moves — and how far behind cable has fallen. Got a tip or spotted something we missed? Drop us an email — we read every one. See you next Wednesday.
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