Top U.S. Pay-TV Providers Lost 105,000 Subs in 2013

DURHAM: The thirteen largest multi-channel video providers in the U.S., representing about 94 percent of the market, lost around 105,000 net video subscribers in 2013, according to Leichtman Research Group.

Annual net multi-channel video additions in 2013 were about 280,000 fewer than in 2012, when the industry added about 175,000 subscribers. The top multi-channel video providers account for over 94.6 million subscribers, with the top nine cable companies having 49.6 million video subscribers, and satellite TV companies having 34.3 million subscribers. The top nine cable companies lost about 1.74 million video subscribers in 2013, compared to a loss of about 1.41 million subs in 2012. Satellite TV providers added 170,000 video subscribers in 2013, compared to 288,000 net additions in 2012.

"2013 was the first year for multi-channel video industry losses, but the modest losses represent only about 0.1 percent of all subscribers," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group. "While the overall market remains fairly flat, further share-shifting has taken place. Cable providers now have a 52 percent share of the top multi-channel video subscribers in the U.S., compared to a 58 percent share three years ago."