Cord Cutting Impacts Cable TV Subscription Losses

Another report shows that Cord Cutting impacts cable TV subscription losses. In fact, Cord Cutting is impacting the entertainment industry in ways no one ever imagined. But imagination is becoming reality for cable and satellite TV. Nearly every quarterly financial report shows that cable and satellite TV providers are losing subscribers. And the trend does not seem to be slowing.

Cord Cutting Impacts Cable TV Subscription Losses

More Subscriber Losses For Cable And Satellite TV

The most recent report on cable and satellite subscription rates show the following:

• 3.4% drop in the total number of pay TV subscribers from the previous year
• 500,000 customers Cut The Cord from cable and satellite TV in just the fourth quarter of 2017 (Oct-Dec 2017)
• 83 Million households still pay for some cable or satellite TV
• 13.5 Million households do not pay for any cable or satellite TV (estimated)

And, the rate of cable and satellite subscription losses is accelerating:

• 3.4% drop in 2017
• 2% drop in 2016
• 1% drop in 2015

(Data courtesy of MoffettNathanson, Fortune.com)

Historical Overview of Cable and Satellite Subscribers

The historical numbers of cable and satellite TV subscribers verifies the Cord Cutting trend is real.

Here is a historical overview of the number of cable and satellite TV subscribers:

• Over 100 Million cable and satellite TV subscribers each year from 2009 to 2015
• Peak of 103 Million cable and satellite TV subscribers in 2012
• 99.2 Million cable and satellite TV subscribers in 2016

(Data courtesy of MoffettNathanson, BusinessInsider.com)

Impact of Streaming Subscriptions

There are many home TV entertainment options available. Cable and satellite TV is no longer the only option. Watching TV shows with a streaming service like Netflix is now a real option.

Cord Cutters are shifting to streaming options for their TV entertainment. That means leaving traditional cable and satellite TV.

Here are the numbers that show streaming TV is booming:

• Netflix – 55 Million US subscribers and 118 Million subscribers globally
• Hulu – 17 Million subscribers
• Sling TV – 2.2 Million subscribers
• DIRECTV NOW – 1.2 Million subscribers
• Playstation Vue (PS Vue) – 450,000 to 670,000 subscribers
• Hulu Live TV – 450,000 subscribers
• YouTube TV – 300,000 subscribers
• fuboTV – 100,000 subscribers

Also, Amazon has Prime Video and over 100 Amazon Channels available as “A LA CARTE” subscriptions. Here is the Complete List of Amazon Channels.

Notes: All subscription numbers are either unofficial or estimated. Hulu Live TV and YouTube TV estimates are courtesy of CNBC. Playstation Vue estimate of 670,000 subscribers courtesy of Ben Bajarin. Netflix, DIRECTV NOW, Sling TV, Hulu, and fuboTV self-disclosed their subscriber estimates.

Impact of TV Antennas

Cord Cutters are also watching FREE High-Definition digital TV from local broadcasts using a TV antenna. You could get over 25 channels in many cities with the right antenna.

Click to enter your zip code and see what free TV channels you can get with an antenna.

Cord Cutters Are Changing The Entertainment Industry

Cord Cutters are watching streaming TV. The entertainment industry is changing. And TV services will continue to shift as new choices are available for watching TV.

You can expect more news about major shifts in the entertainment industry.