The 13 largest pay-TV providers in the U.S. — representing about 95% of the market — lost about 150,000 net video subscribers in 3Q 2014, according to a new study from the Leichtman Research Group, Inc.
This is compared to a loss of about 25,000 video subscribers in 3Q 2013, and more net losses than in any previous third quarter.
The leading pay-TV providers make up 95.3 million subscribers — with the top nine cable companies having around 49.5 million video subscribers, satellite TV companies having more than 34.2 million subscribers, and the top telephone companies having 11.6 million subscribers.
Other key discoveries for the quarter include:
The top 9 cable companies lost about 440,000 video subscribers in 3Q 2014 — compared to a loss of about 600,000 in 3Q 2013;
Time Warner Cable lost 182,000 subscribers in 3Q 2014 — compared to a loss of 304,000 in 3Q 2013;
Satellite TV providers lost 40,000 subscribers in 3Q 2014 — compared to a gain of 174,000 in 3Q 2013;
DirecTV lost 28,000 subscribers in 3Q 2014 — compared to a gain of 139,000 subscribers in 3Q 2013;
The top telephone providers added 330,000 video subscribers in 3Q 2014 — compared to 400,000 net additions in 3Q 2013;
Over the past year, major pay-TV providers lost about 105,000 subscribers — compared to a loss of about 45,000 over the prior year.