FCC Video Report Shows Cable Sub Losses

The Federal Communications Commission has released its 16th annual video competition report to Congress, and the data shows continued declines in cable subscribers, at least as of year-end 2013. The latest report compares year-end 2013 data to year-end 2012. It is based on comments and data culled from various sources. The FCC last released a video competition report in July 2013; that one was based on data through June 30, 2012, and report found inroads by online and direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) providers and a general downward trend in cable subs.

In fact, according to the report, between year-end 2012 and year-end 2013, "the total number of mulitchannel video programming distributor (MVPD) video subscribers posted its first-ever, full-year decline," though not much of one -- from 101 million to 100.9 million households. All of those declines came from cable subscribers, which fell from 56.4 million to 54.4 million, while MVPD phone subscribers increased from 9.9 million to 11.3 million. While the report said MVPDs' increased revenue from video has come in part by raising prices, it concedes that some data suggests that's because program expenses have increased faster than revenues.