Pay TV in 78% of U.S. Homes, Down 8% in Five Years: Research Company

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Around 78% of U.S. TV homes subscribe to a pay TV service of some kind, down from around 86% in 2013, according to a Leichtman Research Group (LRG) study.

LRG said pay TV penetration peaked at 87% in 2008.

Polling 1,152 U.S. television households, LRG found that 70% of adults ages 18-44 subscribe to pay TV, vs. 83% in 2013. For those older than 45, the percentage feel 4% to 84% over the same span.

Notably, the research company found that 32% of those who have moved in the past year don’t subscribe to a pay TV service. Meanwhile, 44% of households with only one TV are non-subscribers; the percentage drops to 23% for those with two TVs and 12% for those with three or more.

About 27% of TV households with annual incomes less than $50,000 don’t subscribe to a pay TV service vs. 20% for those with incomes above $50K. The mean monthly pay TV bill for surveyed homes was $107. 

Daniel Frankel
Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!