A recent Leichtman Research Group, Inc. suggests that the largest pay-TV providers in the U.S., representing about 95% of the market – lost about 1,895,000 net video subscribers in 1Q 2021, compared to a pro forma net loss of about 1,955,000 in 1Q 2020.
The top pay-TV providers now account for about 78.7 million subscribers, with the top seven cable companies having 43.1 million video subscribers. Other traditional pay-TV services garnered 28.9 million subscribers, and the top publicly reporting Internet-delivered (vMVPD) pay-TV services having about 6.7 million subscribers.
Key findings for the quarter include Top cable providers had a net loss of about 775,000 video subscribers in 1Q 2021 – compared to a loss of about 595,000 subscribers in 1Q 2020. Net cable losses in 1Q 2021 were more than in any previous quarter. Other traditional pay-TV services had a net loss of about 865,000 subscribers in Q1 2021, down substantially on the loss of 1.150 million reported a year earlier.
Other traditional pay-TV services such as AT&T Premium TV and DISH TV generated 28.869 million accumulated approximately 28.9 million subscribers, and the top publicly reporting Internet-delivered (vMVPD) pay-TV services had about 6.7 million subscribers. Discovery had 620,000 net losses in Q1 2021, 277,000 fewer than in the same period of 2020. The LRG report also found premier vMVPDs had a net loss of about 255,000 subscribers in Q1 2021 – compared with a loss of about 210,000 subscribers in Q1 2020.
Overall, over the course of the last year, the top pay-TV providers had a net loss of about 4.790 million subscribers, compared with a loss of about 5.125 million over the prior year. Most corporate blood was spilled in the cable sector where the leading providers in the analysis were found to have suffered a net loss of about 775,000 video subscribers in Q1 2021, compared with a loss of about 595,000 subscribers a year ago. Net cable losses in Q1 2021 were more than ever before