Parks Associates reports that ten US streaming services were phased out in Q2 2026 as providers consolidate content into flagship platforms or transition to FAST models. The data highlights a broader industry trend of migrating niche services into larger apps and alternative distribution channels to optimize monetization.
The removal of ten services in a single quarter signals a definitive shift away from the fragmented 'app-for-everything' model toward centralized ecosystem plays. By folding niche brands like BET+ and OHL Live into larger platforms or FAST environments, providers are prioritizing reduced churn and lower overhead over the high acquisition costs of standalone niche apps. This reorganization suggests that even specialized content owners now view third-party aggregators and flagship bundles as more viable paths to profitability than direct-to-consumer independence. Watch for whether the remaining 370 US service profiles face similar pressure to consolidate as marketing costs for independent apps continue to climb.
Industry analysts note that publisher platform consolidation is also occurring on the supply side, as companies look to unify their tech stacks to better compete with the scale of major streaming ecosystems.
During the second quarter of 2026, ten US streaming services were phased out as providers consolidated niche content into flagship apps and FAST channels. This shift marks a move away from fragmented standalone apps toward centralized ecosystems, helping companies reduce churn and overhead while prioritizing long-term profitability over direct-to-consumer independence.
According to Parks Associates, ten US streaming services were phased out during the second quarter of 2026.
Paramount Skydance shuttered BET+ as a standalone app and migrated its content library to a dedicated hub within the Paramount+ platform.
Following the recent market reorganization and the launch of new FAST platforms like OG Network and TrueTVplus, there are 370 tracked US streaming services.
Providers are consolidating niche brands into larger platforms or FAST environments to reduce churn, lower overhead costs, and improve audience monetization compared to the high costs of maintaining independent apps.
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