Cable TV Subscribers Statistics By Connection, Viewers, Platforms and Facts

Introduction

Cable TV Subscribers Statistics: In the 1980s and 1990s, many people subscribed to digital cable and satellite services for entertainment and news. However, new technology like on-demand streaming has changed that. Now, many people are moving away from traditional pay TV subscriptions.

Despite this shift, cable TV is still around. Various records show how cable TV is used, its benefits, and the services it offers. These Cable TV Subscribers Statistics can help you see how cable TV has affected the entertainment industry and its subscribers.

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• As of 2024, around 68.7 million people in the United States have cable TV subscriptions.
• From 2021 to 2023, the number of pay TV subscribers worldwide dropped by about 20 million.
• As of 2023, the number of cable TV subscribers has fallen to 72.2 million, down from 98.7 million in 2016.
• The global pay-TV market is expected to grow from USD 184.09 billion in 2022 to USD 209.01 billion by 2030.
• In the US, there are 1,775 TV stations and about 5,200 cable systems run by 660 companies, reaching 90% of the population.
• Cable TV Subscribers Statistics stated that Comcast lost 2 million subscribers in 2022, compared to 1.66 million in 2021.
• Comcast has 17,144,000 subscribers, while Charter has 15,495,000.
• NBC led in total viewership for 2022 with 5.1 million viewers, just ahead of CBS.
• Cable TV Subscribers Statistics stated that China has the highest pay TV subscription rate, with 76 subscriptions for every 100 households.
• Additionally, 69% of the most popular shows on cable TV are sports-related.
• Finally, more than 80% of people say that the high cost is the main reason they cancel their cable TV subscriptions.

What is Cable TV?

Cable television, also known as cable TV, delivers TV shows to viewers using radio signals sent through coaxial or fibre-optic cables. This allows people to watch TV without needing an antenna. Subscribers usually pay a fee to use cable TV services.

With cable TV, viewers can access many channels, including local stations, national networks, premium channels, and special channels created just for cable companies. This wide selection provides viewers with plenty of choices for shows and content, improving their overall viewing experience.

General Cable TV Subscribers Statistics

• As of 2023, there are 72.2 million cable TV subscribers, down from 98.7 million in 2016.
• The global pay-TV market is expected to grow from USD 184.09 billion in 2022 to USD 209.01 billion by 2030, showing steady revenue growth.
• In the United States, there are 1,775 TV stations and about 5,200 cable systems run by 660 providers, reaching 90% of the population.
• Comcast lost 2 million subscribers in its cable pay-TV business in 2022, an increase from a loss of 1.66 million in 2021.
• Cable TV Subscribers Statistics stated that Comcast leads with 17.1 million subscribers, while Charter has 15.5 million.
• In 2022, NBC attracted 5.1 million viewers, narrowly surpassing CBS in total viewership.
• Traditional TV now makes up only 28% of media consumption, showing a shift towards digital platforms.

(Reference: cablecompare.com)

• Cable TV viewing is expected to drop by 28% each year, reflecting changing consumer habits. In 2022, only 68% of Americans had cable subscriptions.
• About 6 million Americans cancelled their cable subscriptions in 2020, showing a significant trend away from traditional TV.
• In 2022, more than 50% of Americans still preferred cable TV services, suggesting that while streaming options are growing, cable remains a popular choice.
• Cable TV subscriber statistics show that the US has nearly 1,800 TV stations which provide a wide range of programming.
• AT&T is a major provider of cable TV services in the US. Adults continue to favor cable over streaming, indicating different preferences among age groups.

(Reference: cablecompare.com)

• Cable TV Subscribers Statistics stated that China has the most cable television users worldwide, followed by Latin America.
• Sky Europe had over 15 million subscribers in 2023, contributing to significant growth in paid TV subscriptions in the region.
• Europe has seen a large growth in paid television users, which reflects the global trend toward digital data usage.

Count of PAY-TV Households In The US Statistics

(Reference: statista.com)

• In 2023, there were around 58 million traditional pay-tv households in the United States.
• This number is expected to fall to below 41 million by 2028. Meanwhile, digital pay TV is becoming more popular.
• The US has one of the largest pay-TV markets in the world. Although millions of people watch their favourite shows, news, and sports, the pay-TV industry is facing big challenges.
• Cable TV Subscribers Statistics stated that more viewers are cancelling their cable or satellite subscriptions due to rising prices, fewer choices, and the rise of streaming services.
• Right now, over 50% of US TV households don’t have a cable, satellite, or telco provider.
• The trend of cutting cable and changes in how people watch TV are significantly impacting the pay-TV market.
• In 2023, US pay TV providers lost about 5 million subscribers overall. This decline is also affecting major companies like Charter and Comcast.
• To make up for these losses, they are starting to explore streaming options, but it’s uncertain if this will be enough to stop the loss of subscribers.

Cable Connection Subscriber Statistics

• The 2022 cable TV subscriber data shows a 28% drop in paid TV subscriptions from 2018 to 2023.
• As of 2023, there are about 72 million cable TV subscriptions, down from 98.7 million in 2016.
• The market is expected to grow from USD 184.09 billion in 2022 to USD 209.01 billion by 2023.
• Cable TV Subscribers Statistics stated that Comcast lost around 2 million subscribers in 2022, and 82% of adults who stream online find it more entertaining than cable.
• Still, 48% of people in the US pay for cable, with Comcast having about 17.1 million subscribers.

(Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)

• American adults report spending 68% of their TV time streaming, while only 28% is on traditional TV, showing a clear preference for streaming.
• Comcast lost over 2 million subscribers in 2022, compared to a loss of 1.66 million in 2021.
• Pay TV subscribers in the US are expected to decrease by 28% each year from 2022 to 2026.
• In 2022, there were about 68.5 million pay-TV households, which is projected to drop to 57.2 million by 2026.
• Internet TV services now have more subscribers than cable TV, with cable accounting for only 34.4% of subscribers. Streaming usage increased by 32% in 2022, following a 22.6% rise the previous year.
• The global pay-TV market was worth USD 184.09 billion in 2022, growing at an annual rate of 1.60%. It is expected to reach USD 209.01 billion by 2030.
• Cable TV subscriber statistics stated that revenue dropped from USD 54.11 billion in 2010 to USD 36.75 billion in 2023, indicating fewer viewers, likely due to the growing popularity of streaming services.
• In 2022, advertising revenue made up over 75% of the market, thanks to strong cable and satellite access in rural areas. This income is essential for cable networks, which must offer quality content to keep subscribers.
• In the fourth quarter of 2020, there were about 78.7 million cable TV subscribers in the US, showing that cable still has a large audience despite the rise of streaming.
• The number of cable TV subscribers reached 105 million in 2010, the highest it has ever been.

Most Watched Cable TV Network by Viewers

(Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)

• In the above chart, we can see the cable TV networks that were watched the most by the number of viewers.

Global Cable TV -Subscribers Statistics

• The number of digital and analogue cable pay-TV subscribers in Eastern Europe is expected to grow from 65 million in 2018 to 73 million by 2028.
• However, the number of analogue cable subscribers is predicted to decrease to zero during this time.
• In 2022, Sky Europe, a British media and telecommunications company, had almost 22.666 million subscribers.
• Cable TV subscriber statistics stated that the company lost about 26,000 subscribers in the first half of 2021.
• By the second quarter of 2022, cancellations rose sharply to 361,000, which brought Sky’s European subscriber count down to 22.666 million by the end of Q2 2022.

(Reference: ibisworld.com)

• In 2020, the pay-TV industry in Latin America generated over USD 14.3 billion, exceeding the expected USD 14.1 billion from 2019.
• It’s projected to reach USD 14.9 billion in 2023 and spike even higher by 2024.
• By 2029, worldwide pay TV revenue is expected to drop by USD 26 million.

(Reference: ibisworld.com)

• While digital pay-TV subscribers in Eastern Europe are expected to increase, analog cable subscriptions will disappear.
• Sky Europe has seen a decline in its European customer base due to cancellations. In contrast, pay-TV revenue in Latin America is set to rise significantly by 2024. Still, overall, global pay TV revenue has been decreasing since 2016 and will likely continue to fall through 2028.

Cable TV Penetration Statistics by Platform

(Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)

• As of 2022, pay cable TV subscriptions in the United States are expected to drop by 50% by the end of 2024.
• In 2022, the number of subscribers was:

#1. 1 million for free DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television)

#2. 9 million for free satellite

#3. 9 million for pay satellite

#4. 6 million for IPTV (Internet Protocol Television)

#5. 7 million for digital cable

• By 2023, the expected number of subscriptions was:

#1. 3 million for free DTT

#2. 3 million for free satellite

#3. 9 million for pay satellite

#4. 4 million for IPTV

#5. 3 million for digital cable

• By the end of 2024, the projected subscriptions will be:

#1. 7 million for free DTT

#2. 3 million for free satellite

#3. 4 million for pay satellite

#4. 3 million for IPTV

#5. 4 million for digital cable

Cable TV is becoming less valuable

• A recent study from CordCutting.com found that while the average number of channels in a cable package has decreased since 2019, the average monthly bill has increased significantly—from USD 96 to USD 147.
• That's a 52% jump in just three years, raising the cost per channel from USD 0.50 to USD 0.77.
• This increase is three times higher than the rate of inflation, which is concerning for people trying to be mindful of their entertainment budgets.
• Even more alarming, the study showed that nearly all the channels in an average cable TV package go unwatched.

(Reference: research.mountain.com)

• Even though viewers can access nearly 200 channels, the average person only watches about 15.
• This means that 92% of channels go unwatched, making cable TV's already high-cost feT.V. even more expensive.
• With a monthly bill of USD 147 for just 15 channels, the real cost per channel is USD 9.57, which is higher than or similar to the prices of popular streaming services.
• In fact, for less than one-third of the cost of a cable TV biT.V., consumers could subscribe to all the major streaming services and still watch their favorite broadcast and cable shows on platforms like Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and HBO Max.

(Source: research.mountain.com)

• As a result, the average consumer wastes USD 135 every month—or USD 1,618 a year—on channels they don't watch.
• For those who watch even fewer than 15 channels, the amount they waste keeps going up.

(Reference: research.mountain.com)

US Cable TV Subscribers Statistics

• Cable TV subscribers Statistics stated that almost 48% of Americans get their TV through cable or satellite.
• The quality of local TV channels clearly affects how many Americans keep cable.
• The US U.S.1,775 television stations.
• There are also about 5,200 cable systems run by 660 providers, reaching 90% of the population.
• However, more people are exploring other options.

(Reference: enterpriseappstoday.com)

• By 2024, 101.5 million people are expected to cut the cord, and by 2026, that number will increase to 112.9 million, making up 41.6% of the US population.
• The number of people in the US who will cancel their cable or satellite subscriptions is projected to rise to 95.1 million by 2023, up from 87 million in 2022.
• The following table shows the US Cord-Cutter 2022 – 2026

• In 2023, Xfinity will be the biggest cable TV service provider in the US.
• Stomers will pay about 18% more for the same TV channels, and fees for TV services, equipment, regional sports, broadcasts, modem rentals, and internet services will significantly increase.
• Cable TV Subscribers Statistics stated that Cable revenue grew by 1.4% to USD 16.64 billion, just missing analysts’ prediction of USD 16.67 billion.
• At the same time, NBCU’s advertising sales increased by 4% to USD 2.86 billion, and revenue from theme parks went up by 12% to USD 2.11 billion.
• 81% of people aged 65 and older have a cable TV subscription in the US.

(Source: emarketer.com)

• The majority of cable TV subscribers, around 63%, are 68 years or older. Those aged 47-67 make up 55% of the remaining subscribers, while people aged 37-48 account for 48%.
• Cable TV subscribers Statistics stated that the smallest group of cable TV subscribers is the 18-37 age group, with only 46%, as they usually prefer other options like streaming services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Cable TV Subscriber Statistics gives us important insights into the changing TV industry. The drop in cable TV subscribers, along with the increasing preference for digital streaming, shows that cable providers need to adjust their strategies to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market. Despite these challenges, the cable TV market is expected to reach USD 209.01 billion worldwide by 2030, creating chances for innovation and growth. With 82% of US US citizens finding internet TV more entertaining than cable, it's clear that consumer preferences are shifting toward digital options.

However, since 48% of Americans still pay for cable TV services, there is still a large audience to reach. Market research analysts play a key role in understanding these trends, helping businesses navigate the industry's complexities and take advantage of new opportunities. As the landscape continues to evolve, a solid understanding of Cable TV Subscriber Statistics will be essential for companies to thrive in the digital age.