Cable operators lost fewer customers than in Q2 2014, at a drop of 260,000 compared to 510,000 a year ago. This was the smallest drop since Q2 2008, according to the market researcher. Customer losses at satellite TV providers increased to 214,000 from 78,000 in the year-earlier period, due mainly to a record drop at DirecTV. Telecom operators still managed to gain 4,000 new customers in the quarter, but this was the smallest net gain since they started providing TV services in 2006.
The top pay-TV providers now account for a total 94.9 million subscribers, of which nearly 49.0 million over cable, 34.2 million on satellite and 11.7 million at telecom companies. In the past 12 months, they have lost a net 370,000 subscribers, compared to a drop of 5,000 in the year-earlier period. This includes figures for Dish TV's new Sling TV service.
Comcast remains the largest pay-TV provider in the US with 22.3 million subscribers, followed by AT&T-DirecTV with a combined total of 26.3 million, Dish Network with 13.9 million, Time Warner Cable at nearly 11 million and Charter with 4.3 million.
