Strong '22 Seen for Broadband, Not for MVPDs: Kagan

Next year could bring better news for residential broadband providers' and broadcasters' rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, though streaming service new entrants and legacy pay-TV providers face a murkier future, Kagan said Friday. Federal investment in closing the digital divide should help drive 3.9 million residential broadband subscriber net additions next year, raising penetration to 92%, up from 88% at the end of 2020, it said. Midterm election and legalized sports betting advertisements will help aid broadcasters' rebound from the pandemic, it said, predicting TV broadcaster revenue of $38.2 billion, up $4.1 billion, and radio station revenue at $15.8 billion, up $2.1 billion. MVPD penetration globally, which peaked at 60.6% of households in 2018, is expected to decline to 58.2% next year as customers move to streaming services or virtual MVPDs. Subscription VOD sub growth could slow next year, it said. Kagan predicted the consumer electronics industry continuing to be hit by the global semiconductor shortage, with improvements to semiconductor supplies coming in 2023 at the earliest.