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Broadband Users Now Outnumber Cable Users at Top Cable Companies

Earlier this month Moody's investment service predicted that the cable industry's broadband subscribers should pass the total number of cable industry TV customers sometime next year. But according to the latest data from Leichtman Research Group, that has already happened -- at least when analyzing subscriber data from the largest cable operators.

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According to Leichtman, the seventeen largest cable and telephone providers in the country -- representing about 93% of the market -- acquired roughly 385,000 net additional high-speed Internet subscribers in the second quarter of 2014.

For cable operators, the number of broadband subscribers exceeded the number of cable TV subscribers for the first time ever -- with about 49,915,000 broadband subscribers at the end of 2Q 2014, compared to about 49,910,000 cable TV subscribers, notes Leichtman.

"With the addition of more than 30 million broadband subscribers over the past decade, cable providers have clearly expanded well beyond their roots in cable TV service," notes company president Bruce Leichtman. "As of the end of 2Q 2014, the top cable providers now have more broadband subscribers than cable TV subscribers."

While phone companies have made great inroads in TV services the last few years, cable providers continue to eat the phone companies' lunch when it comes to broadband. The top cable companies accounted for 99% of the net broadband additions for the quarter versus the top telephone companies (in part because AT&T and Verizon are backing away from DSL markets they don't want to upgrade).
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Yucca Servic
join:2012-11-27
Rio Rancho, NM

Yucca Servic

Member

Clairavoince

I'm betting people are getting tired of being bombed with advertizing with little media output. Cable programmers and producers just don't get it. I'm one that wants any video anytime from the Internet.
If there is a little advertising I don't mind but the minute it starts blasting ads I'm gone. The Jetsons age is coming or maybe already here. Technology is going to get better and eventually give us what we want. But until then I will continue being a cord cutter.
Nanaki (banned)
aka novaflare. pull punches? Na
join:2002-01-24
Akron, OH

Nanaki (banned)

Member

Re: Clairavoince

Can't blame your cable etc provider for the ads mostly though as that comes from the networks. Net flix etc can do what they do as they are basically rerunning the eps and do insert ads just not as much.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt to Yucca Servic

Premium Member

to Yucca Servic
and since this thread is about broadband...
It's good that cable providers can serve both broadband and broadcast about equally and are handling the transition between the 2 worlds gracefully, better than most other wide spread technologies (phone, satellite, fixed and mobile wireless)
and cable can easily expand their plant(when permitted to do so) and transition to fiber or X at the right time.

batman
@73.160.110.x

1 recommendation

batman

Anon

Re: Clairavoince

said by tshirt:

and since this thread is about broadband...
It's good that cable providers can serve both broadband and broadcast about equally and are handling the transition between the 2 worlds gracefully, better than most other wide spread technologies (phone, satellite, fixed and mobile wireless) and cable can easily expand their plant(when permitted to do so) and transition to fiber or X at the right time.

And expect to see broadband prices rise as users drop or shrink TV packages and do more streaming. Soon, broadband will not only be the bigger part of a cable companies customer numbers, but their profits as well.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina to tshirt

Member

to tshirt
I've always thought cable had the best position. The coax plant, shielded with bi-directional amplifiers, is so much more capable than copper. They can slowly push fiber toward the customer rather than incur the significant costs of FTTH like Verizon and Google.

I've also contemplated if the typical buried coax run between pedestals (the thick coax) would tolerate a method that inserted a fiber strand and whether or not this would lower costs as opposed to typical trench free methods.
Jim_in_VA (banned)
join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA

1 recommendation

Jim_in_VA (banned)

Member

I'm Broadband only

with my cable provider. Their TV offering sucks. I use Dish for that, love their DVR and Sling products. Truly TV Everywhere on any device.

Flyonthewall
@206.248.154.x

Flyonthewall

Anon

Future is bleak

Two providers, one for wireless service, probably AT&T or Verizon, and one for broadband internet, on the cable. Hello Comcast.....

Market is trying to make themselves into monopolies again.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Big Whoop

Now there's more people with cable HSI and satellite TV than DSL and cable TV. Most cable TV and telco TV subs get their internet from the same provider as well...

fiosultimate
join:2014-06-09
San Antonio, TX

1 recommendation

fiosultimate

Member

monopolies

Monopolies work, who would have thought it?
grabacon9
join:2013-08-21
Newark, OH

grabacon9

Member

What do they expect?

A Handout? They keep raising rates thinking everybody is filthy rich. If they keep doing the same on Internet, people are going to do the same. You can't keep getting rich without consequences. Money doesn't grow on trees. Look at Wal-Mart. Profit Outlook is going down too now.
floydb1982
join:2004-08-25
Kent, WA

floydb1982

Member

What is so wrong with TV anyhow

I just don't know what is so wrong with paid television. I mean I'm paying for a Comcast cable television package and I fell I am getting my moneys worth.

v6movement
@206.51.28.x

v6movement

Anon

Re: What is so wrong with TV anyhow

said by floydb1982:

I just don't know what is so wrong with paid television. I mean I'm paying for a Comcast cable television package and I fell I am getting my moneys worth.

and there are tons of people who think they're not getting their moneys worth. This isn't rocket science. Cable TV is so overpriced. This should be common sense.
Jim_in_VA (banned)
join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA

Jim_in_VA (banned)

Member

Re: What is so wrong with TV anyhow

if you want great TV entertainment, you won't get it OTA. The big 3 offer nothing but crap. HBO,AMC,History,Disc ...there is where the good shows are

v6movement
@206.51.28.x

v6movement

Anon

Re: What is so wrong with TV anyhow

said by Jim_in_VA:

if you want great TV entertainment, you won't get it OTA. The big 3 offer nothing but crap. HBO,AMC,History,Disc ...there is where the good shows are

If you could get those channels at a reasonable price standalone then maybe, but the way things are bundled they're definitely not worth it.