According to the Leichtman Research Group, the largest pay TV providers in the United States - representing about 95% of the market - lost about 405,000 net video subscribers in 3Q 2017, compared to a loss of about 250,000 subscribers in 3Q 2016.
The top pay TV providers account for 92.2 million subscribers, with the top six cable companies having 48.1 million video subscribers, satellite TV services about 32.3 million, the top telephone companies 9.3 million, and the top Internet-delivered pay TV services having about 2.5 million subscribers.
Other findings indicate:
- The top six cable companies lost about 290,000 video subscribers in 3Q 2017, compared to a loss of about 90,000 subscribers in 3Q 2016.
- Satellite TV services lost about 475,000 subscribers in 3Q 2017, compared to a gain of about 5,000 subscribers in 3Q 2016. DBS net losses were more than in any previous quarter. DirecTV had 251,000 net losses in 3Q 2017, compared to a gain of 323,000 in 3Q 2016.
- The top telephone providers lost about 180,000 video subscribers in 3Q 2017, compared to a loss of about 370,000 subscribers in 3Q 2016.
- Internet-delivered services (Sling TV and DirecTV NOW) added about 535,000 subscribers in 3Q 2017, compared to about 200,000 net adds in 3Q 2016.
"The top two Internet-delivered pay TV services added over a half million subscribers in 3Q 2017, bringing their combined total to nearly 2.5 million subscribers, and further entrenching this newer form of delivery as part of today's pay TV industry," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for LRG. "Overall, the top pay TV providers lost about 155,000 more subscribers in 3Q 2017 than in 3Q 2016."