The Next Networks

The Multichannel News editorial team recently sat down to tackle a very intriguing question: Which cable networks with less than 50 million subscribers are likely to take off over the next year or two? We debated such factors as recent ratings success, the power and leverage of corporate parents, retransmission consent dynamics and strength of originality. We narrowed the list to nine services that are already up and running and three services that will kick off in the coming months. While no one knows what the future will hold, these are our best bets on which services will lead cable’s next hot generation of networks.


  1. Fox Reality Channel

  2. CSTV

  3. ESPN Deportes

  4. Great American Country

  5. Lifetime Movie Network

  6. NFL Network

  7. Noggin/The N

  8. Sí TV

  9. SoapNet

  10. TV One