Leichtman Research Group found that the largest pay-TV providers in the US – representing about 93% of the market – lost about 1,740,000 net video subscribers in 3Q 2019.
This compares to a pro forma net loss of about 975,000 subscribers in 3Q 2018.
The top pay-TV providers now account for about 84.8 million subscribers – with the top seven cable companies having 46.1 million video subscribers, satellite TV services 26.3 million subscribers, the top telephone companies 8.6 million subscribers, and the top publicly reporting Internet-delivered (vMVPD) pay-TV services 3.8 million subscribers.
Key findings for the quarter include:
-Satellite TV services lost about 1,140,000 subscribers in 3Q 2019 – compared to a net loss of about 725,000 subscribers in 3Q 2018
– DIRECTV had record net losses for the sixth consecutive quarter, while DISH TV had fewer net losses than in any quarter since 3Q 2014
– The top seven cable companies lost about 410,000 video subscribers in 3Q 2019 – compared to a loss of about 245,000 subscribers in 3Q 2018
– The top telephone providers lost about 210,000 video subscribers in 3Q 2019 – compared to a loss of about 80,000 subscribers in 3Q 2018
– Internet-delivered (vMVPD) services, Sling TV and AT&T NOW, added about 20,000 subscribers in 3Q 2019 – compared to about 75,000 net adds in 3Q 2018
– AT&T had a net loss of about 1,370,000 subscribers across its three pay-TV services (DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse, and AT&T NOW) in 3Q 2019 – compared to a net loss of about 295,000 subscribers in 3Q 2018.
“The top pay-TV providers had a net loss of about 1,740,000 subscribers in 3Q 2019. This marked the fifth consecutive quarter of record pay-TV industry net losses,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group.
“AT&T, the leading pay-TV provider in the U.S., accounted for 79% of the net losses in the quarter compared to 30% of net losses in 3Q 2018. This change is largely the result of AT&T’s strategic decision to increasingly focus on retaining and acquiring more profitable subscribers.”