The cord-cutting debate continues to rage –at least in the US, where the number subscribers to pay-TV services operated by publicly traded cable, satellite and phone companies fell by 200,000 in the second quarter.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) points out that although this was equivalent to 0.2% of the entire pay-TV market of 100 million, the actual figure is likely to have been double when private companies are taken into account.
It also says that the TV industry is divided on the issue of cord-cutting and that figures for the second quarter, usually a quiet period for pay-TV companies, cannot settle the argument one way or the other.
Indeed, in the last couple of years the pay-TV industry made up for declines in Q2 and Q3 with gains in Q1 and Q4, posting net growth of 200,000 in both.
However, even relative newcomers such as Verizon now appear to be losing out to the likes of Netflix and YouTube, while Dish is diversifying into other areas.
