Analyst: Digital TV Transition Added 653,000 Subscribers to Pay TV

Wells Fargo Securities broadcasting and cable analyst Marci Ryvicker estimated that the digital transition added about 653,000 new subscribers to cable, satellite and telco companies, but said that cable operators, which reaped big benefits from the transition in the first quarter, won't likely see another big boost from the federal initiative until the third quarter. Ryvicker, in a research note Tuesday, estimated that the bulk of the benefit from the digital transition - originally slated for Feb. 17 but extended to June 12 - occurred for cable in the first quarter. That growth is expected to slow down to 122,337 in the second quarter and tick back up to 162,304 in the third quarter, according to Ryvicker's estimates. Cable operators are expected to gain the most through the DTV transition (475,000 subscribers) according to Ryvicker, followed by satellite TV (137,000) and the telcos (41,000).