Pay-TV Subscriber Losses Set Year-on-Year Record at Nearly 5 Million, Says LRG

Top pay-TV providers lost 4.9 million net video subscribers in 2019 vs. 1.6 million in the prior year, more net losses than in any previous year, reported Leichtman Research Group Tuesday. Satellite companies continued to lead the consumer exodus, shedding 3.7 million vs. 2.4 million the previous year; DirecTV lost 3.2 million, said the research firm. Top cable providers cumulatively lost 3.3% of video subscribers vs. 1.9% the prior year. Telcos’ losses widened to 7.4% of video subscribers vs. a loss of 2.6%. Comcast lost 732,000 TV subscribers, followed by Charter Communications at 462,000. AT&T accounted for 84% of 2019 pay-TV net losses vs. 48% the prior year. Subscription growth slowed among vMVPDs, too: Hulu Plus Live TV, Sling TV and AT&T TV Now added about 1 million subscribers in 2019 vs. 1.9 million. The increase in pay-TV net losses was due to consumers’ expanding choices for video options and decisions by AT&T and others to focus on “long-term profitability in acquiring and retaining subscribers,” said principal Bruce Leichtman.