Posted on 06/24/2011 5:40:26 AM PDT by abb
Cable TV distribution continues to lose customers in the top 15 markets, with telco companies sharply rising and satellite TV companies seeing little change.
There was a 3.8% decline in the first quarter of 2011 versus the same period in 2010 in the top 15 markets, slipping to 23.2 million customers, per SNL Kagan.
New York City, the biggest TV market, dropped 3.4%; Los Angeles, at No. 2, sank 4%; and Chicago, the third-largest market, slipped 5.1%.
The biggest declines in major markets were in Atlanta (eighth-biggest), losing 8%; Dallas (fifth place) gave up 7.7%. Seattle (13th place) lost the least, at 0.2%.
Telco was up 24% to 4.4 million among the top 15 markets during the period, with Los Angeles rocketing up 50.9% in customers during the period and Chicago 49.5%. The slowest movers were Dallas, rising just 7.8%, and Detroit (11th place) 16.4% higher.
Satellite TV distribution in the top 15 markets was virtually unchanged -- up 0.1% to 10.64 million. Washington (the 9th-largest market) was up 3.9%; Houston (the 10th-largest) was 3.8% higher.
Looking at all multichannel TV distributors -- cable, satellite and telco -- these TV business were virtually unchanged in the top 15 markets during the first quarter, slipping 0.1% to 38.18 million.
Washington witnessed the greatest rise at 4.7%; and Los Angeles was next at 3.9%. Atlanta lost the most at 5.2%; Phoenix was next at 3.3%.
ping
Please excuse my ignorance, but what is telco and why is it replacing cable?
Telco is a telephone company, Verizon or AT&T. They offer fiber service now, with TV & Internet & phone, that is replacing cable in many areas.
I’m not sure where this fits into the equation, but Comcast is p!ssing me off so I’m about to upgrade to Verizon Fios.
I liked TV better when I had 3 channels, and a 4th when the weather cooperated. :)
I use AT&T Uverse for my internet. I run 4 PCs, 2 game consoles and a laptop. We have used the internet for all of our traditional TV viewing.
In fact my youngest told me last night that he was happy that we no longer had DISH, because he can now watch ‘better shows’
...and it was free
Let me know if it's any better. When I looked into it I had to install all this equipment on the side of my house and still had to have a crappy cable box attached to ever set. And to make things worse the 5 stations or so that I do watch were spread out over different packages so I'd still end up paying about the same as comcast.
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Ah yes, the days of coat hangers and aluminum foil. Pulling in a distant channel was a real triumph then. How much we've lost when we gained so much.
cable TV has fallen victim to their own laziness. They have a state authorized monopoly in every area I’ve ever lived. They have no competition and as soon as something new shows up (dish, FiOS etc) they lose customers.
I despised my cable company until we got FiOS and now we have twice the channel line-up, twice the HD selection, great internet and phone service for the cost of just cable tv service offered by ComCrap or Why-Finity.
Now that we’re moving, I’m stuck with ComCrap again because there is no other provider that has been “approved” by the local gubmint. Our new neighborhood is littered with satellite dishes because ComCrap service is “spotty” at best. I’m guessing that as soon as Verizon get the green light to start service in our sub, ComCrap will get on the stick and start servicing.
Telco and cable are now one and the same, imo. My cable provider (Suddenlink) provides my local and long distance phone service. $30/month, unlimited local and long distance.
it was the best decision we’ve made since we moved here in MD. FiOS kicks butt. Our subdivision was pre-wired for the service so it was easy but I’ve read that they might need to do some digging in places that don’t have the wiring.
We’re looking forward to getting FiOS in our new sub as soon as they can get there. My neighbor across the street and I will throw the installers a party.
Y’all may want in on this one.
Me too! I have the “triple play” and it’s currently costing me $245 a month. The digital TV gets squirrely at times and goes off on a pixel tangent. I’d love to switch, only problem, I have Embarq as a phone co., they stink.
>>I liked TV better when I had 3 channels, and a 4th when the weather cooperated. :)<<
Digital tv screwed all that up, even if you wanted to go “over the air”.
maybe there are more like us, we got tired of increased prices while service decreased in satifaction
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