More than four in five US TV homes subscribe to pay TV

Bruce Leichtman

Some 82% of US TV households subscribe to a pay TV service – down from 87% in 2011, but the same as in 2005 – according to new research.

The Leichtman Research Group study found that 7% of current pay TV subscribers did not subscribe to a TV service for more than a month at some time over the past two years.

It also said that 25% of those who moved in the past year do not currently subscribe to a pay TV service – a higher level than in previous years.

Some 6% of pay TV subscribers were also found to be likely to disconnect from their provider and not subscribe to any TV service in the next six months – similar to 7% in 2015, and 7% in 2014.

“The rates of those exiting the [pay TV] category, or intending to leave, are actually similar to recent years,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group.

“The decline in penetration is also due to a lack of those who are coming into the category, and the industry not keeping pace with movers and related rental housing growth.”