Multichannel Video Subs Drop by 251,000 in 2013

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Multichannel video subscriptions fell by 251,000 to about 100 million during 2013, marking the first full-year decline, according to figures released Wednesday by SNL Kagan.

The new figures could add to industry concerns that the pay TV business could shrink in the face of a weak economy, high prices and increased competition from broadband video.

Kagan says that cable operators lost nearly 2 million basic video subscribers to end the year with approximately 54.4 million subscribers. 

During the fourth quarter, the industry added 40,000 pay TV subscriptions, a smaller gain than a year ago.  Cable operators lost 388,000 subs in the quarter.

Satellite growth slowed, but DirecTV and Dish Network managed to add 170,000 subscribers between them during the year, with DirecTV accounting for the bulk of the additional.

The telcos added 286,000 customers to finish the year with 10.7 million subscribers.

Jon Lafayette
Jon Lafayette

Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.