ABSTRACT
Consumers are using four methods to receive packages of television channels and/or programming, including cable, satellite, telephone lines, and internet delivery (OTT—Over-the-Top Television). This multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) market is more competitive than ever, with consumers actively switching from one service to another, as well as subscribing to multiple services at the same time. Overall, the MVPD industry continued to face substantial subscriber losses in 2019 due to cord-cutting trends. In fact, the net traditional MVPD subscriber losses accelerated between 2013 and 2019, with an estimated total loss of more than 15 million subscribers (or 15% of the estimated 101 million multichannel video subscribers in 2013). In 2019, traditional MVPDs lost nearly 6 million subscribers while the industry only gained about 1 million virtual MVPD customers. Cable operators still dominated the MVPD market with a 58% market share, followed by direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers with a 30% share and telephone companies with a 12% share. The top four U.S. pay-TV providers (Comcast, AT&T, Charter, and DISH) served 80% of the mainstream video subscribers in 2019.
