The Erosion of Cable TV Subscribers May Soon Become A Deluge

[kevindavis007]

The erosion of traditional Pay TV is continuing but when a realistic broadband Internet alternative becomes available, the erosion may become a rout.

The latest data from eMarketer (see here) is showing that cord cutting is accelerating but not by enough to panic the cable TV companies. eMarketer’s data shows a slight acceleration in the decline of cable TV subscribers to 3.8% from 3.4% in 2017, indicating that the integration of traditional services with those of Netflix have not really had any impact. There will still be 186.7m US adults watching cable TV in 2018, meaning that the business is still very large despite its continual decline.

This scale is likely to mean that the warning bells have not been headed in cable TV’s corridors of power although it does seem to have realised the importance of content. This is why the sector is locked in a big wave of vertical consolidation.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardwindsoreurope/2018/07/25/the-erosion-of-cable-tv-subscribers-may-soon-become-a-deluge/

[truth_seeker]

We have 3 TVs, each with a Roku, Netflix & Amazon Prime, and rooftop OTA antenna.

Cut the cable entirely a few years ago, with nary a complaint.

(Just dropped our SlingTV subscription).

[Wingnut]

Traditional Cable tv had a good run.  From 1980 till 2020.  RIP you whore sucking POS turd packers.

[Elderberry]

in 2017: 55 percent of US households now subscribe to paid streaming video services (the first time US streaming has passed the 50 percent threshold).

Wow! I didn't realize so many people were streaming already.

[kevindavis007]

in 2017: 55 percent of US households now subscribe to paid streaming video services (the first time US streaming has passed the 50 percent threshold).

Wow! I didn't realize so many people were streaming already.

One thing I like about Streaming services is you can just cancel it. If you want to cancel Cable you have to sacrifice your first born to quit cable.

[Applewood]

I've been telling people lately that when my tv in the living room bites the dust, I am not replacing it. Lately, I've been watching most of my tv on my laptop.  I haven't watched new programming in quite some time.  It's all Netflix, Amazon Prime and Sling.  I really don't need local channels except for local news and weather.  All of the local stations stream their news.  Don't need cable or satellite.  Just decent Wi-Fi.

[Drago]

..."when a realistic broadband Internet alternative..."  That's the rub..."broadband" is not available to tens of millions in more rural "underserved" areas.  "5g-LTE" may help but only if cellular companies get real about "unlimited" data.