Advanced Television

Multi-channel providers add 380,000 subs in 2011

March 21, 2012

Leichtman Research Group has found that the fourteen largest multi-channel video providers in the US – representing about 94 per cent of the market – acquired over 380,000 net additional video subscribers in 2011. Annual net multi-channel video additions in 2011 were about 175,000 fewer than in 2010.

Combined, these top multi-channel video providers account for over 94.5 million subscribers – with the top ten cable companies having 52.7 million video subscribers, satellite TV companies having over 33.85 million subscribers, and top telephone companies having 7.96 million subscribers.

Other key findings include:
– The top ten cable companies lost about 1,620,000 video subscribers in 2011 – compared to a loss of about 1,780,000 subscribers in 2010
– The top telephone providers added 1,505,000 video subscribers in 2011 – compared to 1,644,000 net additions in 2010
– Satellite TV providers added 496,000 video subscribers in 2011-compared to 696,000 net additions in 2010
– In the fourth quarter of 2011, multi-channel video providers added about 230,000 subscribers – compared to a gain of about 90,000 in the fourth quarter of 2010

“Despite a relatively saturated market, low housing growth, and an increase in ‘over-the-top’ alternatives, the multi-channel video industry grew modestly in 2011,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc. “Overall, the top multi-channel video providers added about 380,000 subscribers in 2011, compared to a gain of about 555,000 in 2010.”

Categories: Articles, Markets, Research, Video