Streaming Providers Shifted Models to Boost Revenue
Companies adopted bundling and sharing limits to address stagnant subscriber growth and revenue concerns.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Television
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Streaming platforms implemented account sharing restrictions and bundled service plans to increase average revenue per user. These changes followed 2025 reports that highlighted slowing growth despite high subscription volumes.
Why it matters
Providers implemented these changes to curb subscriber churn and improve profitability per user as industry growth plateaued. Bundling services allows companies to keep users engaged while reducing the overall cost for consumers.
Subscription-based TV and video revenue reached $186.5 billion in 2025, with projections suggesting $190.7 billion by 2030. Combined service bundles now offer consumers rates 37% cheaper than purchasing individual subscriptions.
The players
Parks Associates
This is a market research firm that provides data and insights on the connected home and streaming industry.
Tving
Tving is a South Korean subscription-based streaming service that offers a variety of television and film content.
Wavve
Wavve is a South Korean over-the-top media service that provides live television and on-demand streaming.
Disney+
Disney+ is a global streaming service owned by The Walt Disney Company that features content from its major entertainment studios.
Netflix
Netflix is a global streaming entertainment service that produces and distributes original and licensed video content.
The details
Companies including Netflix, Disney+, and Tving began enforcing strict household-only account usage to prevent unauthorized sharing. Additionally, Tving introduced a point-based payment system for content purchases in August 2026, while Wavve utilizes a coin system for subscription payments and cashback rewards.
Timeline
U.S. TV and streaming subscriptions totaled 719 million in 2025.
Tving, Wavve, and Disney+ launched a combined subscription plan in November 2025.
Tving introduced a point system for individual content purchases in August 2026.
U.S. subscriptions are projected to increase to 765 million by 2030.
Industry Dynamics
This evolution reflects the broader shift from pure subscriber-acquisition tactics to a focus on maximizing average revenue per user. It follows the pattern of industry-wide monetization diversification established by the major streaming players identified by Parks Associates.
Viewers can now save 37% on costs by opting for bundled service plans instead of individual subscriptions. However, households must ensure all devices used on a single account remain within the same location to avoid service access restrictions.
The takeaway
Consumers can leverage bundling options to lower monthly media expenditures while platforms continue to refine loyalty rewards like point systems. Adapting to these new access rules is now necessary to maintain uninterrupted service across multiple devices.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving landscape of streaming media, visit the Television section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
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