The thirteen largest pay-TV providers in the US, representing about 95% of the market, lost about 300,000 net video subscribers in 2Q 2014, compared to a loss of about 350,000 video subscribers in 2Q 2013.
According to research by the Leichtman Research Group the top pay-TV providers account for nearly 95.5 million subscribers, with the top nine cable companies having 49.9 million video subscribers, satellite TV companies having 34.3 million subscribers, and the top telephone companies having about 11.3 million subscribers.
The top nine cable companies lost about 510,000 video subscribers in 2Q 2014; the fewest losses in any second quarter since 2Q 2009.
Cable One lost 6.5% of all cable subscribers in 2Q 2014; the highest percentage of losses in one-quarter by any top provider in the past decade.
Satellite TV providers lost 78,000 subscribers in 2Q 2014; compared to a loss of 162,000 in 2Q 2013.
The top telephone providers added 290,000 video subscribers in 2Q 2014; compared to 373,000 net additions in 2Q 2013.
“The top pay-TV providers lost about 300,000 subscribers in the traditionally weak second quarter, but cumulative net losses in 2Q 2014 were slightly fewer than in any second quarter since 2Q 2010,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc.
“Over the past year, the top pay-TV providers actually had a small net gain of about 20,000 subscribers, compared to a cumulative net loss of about 70,000 subscribers over the prior year.”
“The top pay-TV providers lost about 300,000 subscribers in the traditionally weak second quarter, but cumulative net losses in 2Q 2014 were slightly fewer than in any second quarter since 2Q 2010,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc. “Over the past year, the top pay-TV providers actually had a small net gain of about 20,000 subscribers, compared to a cumulative net loss of about 70,000 subscribers over the prior year.”
Subscribers at Net Adds in Pay-TV Providers End of 2Q 2014 2Q 2014 ------------------------------------- -------------- ----------- Cable Companies Comcast 22,457,000 (114,000) Time Warner 11,212,000 (147,000) Charter 4,320,000 (35,000) Cablevision 2,771,000 (28,000) Suddenlink 1,168,800 (18,700) Mediacom 919,000 (18,000) Cable ONE 490,309 (34,254) Other Major Private Cable Companies* 6,570,000 (85,000) Total Top Cable 49,908,109 (509,954) Satellite TV Companies (DBS) DIRECTV 20,231,000 (34,000) DISH 14,053,000 (44,000) Total DBS 34,284,000 (78,000) Telephone Companies AT&T U-verse 5,851,000 190,000 Verizon FiOS 5,419,000 100,000 Total Top Phone 11,270,000 290,000 ------------------------------------- -------------- ----------- Total Top Pay-TV Providers 95,462,109 (297,954)
Sources: The Companies and Leichtman Research Group, Inc.
* Includes LRG estimates for Cox and Bright House Networks