Statistics compiled by Leichtman Research Group (LRG) indicate that pay TV service providers may have turned the corner when it comes to losing video subscribers.
According to LRG, the nation's 13 largest MVPDs actually added 260,000 or so net video subscribers in the first quarter--about 30,000 more than the same period in 2013. The additions, though, were mostly among satellite and telco providers--both of whom actually slowed down--while cable gained by losing less.
The top nine cable companies lost about 50,000 video subs in the first quarter, making it the best quarter since 1Q 2009, the researchers said. Satellite TV providers added 52,000, but that was 5,000 less than in the first quarter of 2013. And telcos added 258,000, but that was way down compared to the 401,000 added in 2013 and included Verizon's (NYSE: VZ) fewest FiOS additions in any quarter since the second quarter of 2006.
For more:
- see this press release
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