Online gains, as US providers shed subs

The top 10 service providers in the United States lost over 358,000 television subscribers on the second quarter of 2018.

DBS companies DirecTV and DISH Network lost a combined 478,000 subscribers, compared to 373,000 in the previous quarter.

Cable companies within the top 10 lost 233,000 television customers, compared to 244,000 the previous quarter. Meanwhile online services DirecTV Now and Sling TV gained 325,000 and 41,000 subscribers respectively.

“Satellite television services lost more subscribers than were gained by their corresponding online alternatives, noted Dr William Cooper, the editor of the informitv Multiscreen Index. “Cable companies slightly reduced their rate of loss but the market is marked by slow attrition rather than a dramatic decline.”

DirecTV lost 286,000 satellite television subscribers, compared to 188,000 the previous quarter and 156,000 in the second quarter the previous year, falling just below 20 million customers. DISH Network lost 192,000 satellite television subscribers, compared to 185,000 the previous quarter, although it lost 196,000 in the second quarter the previous year. Comcast lost 136,000 cable television customers, with its fifth consecutive quarterly loss, down 410,000 year on year to 21.07 million.

Sling TV overtook Optimum to rank seventh, with 2.34 million subscribers, while DirecTV Now made the greatest gain, ending the first half of 2018 with 1.74 million.

The top 10 services for the United States in the Multiscreen Index now have 83.56 million television customers between them, accounting for slightly less than 70% of television homes.

Source: Multiscreen Index