Telco, Satellite TV Subs Still Happier Than Cable Customers: J.D. Power

Television subscribers largely continue to rank telephone and satellite services higher than cable TV, according to J.D. Power & Associates 2011 customer-satisfaction survey for residential TV services.

Meanwhile, J.D. Power found that increased penetration of DVRs and video-on-demand usage is boosting monthly revenue for pay-TV providers. The average monthly bill for triple-play customers -- those who subscribe to voice, video and Internet service -- climbed to $149.52 in 2011, up 6% from $140.90 last year. AT&T U-verse TV garnered the top score in the North Central, South and West regions -- marking the fourth consecutive year it ranked highest in the West -- while DirecTV took the trophy in the East, according to J.D. Power. Overall, DirecTV, Dish Network, U-verse and Verizon Communications' FiOS TV received higher ratings than cable operators across all regions with only two exceptions: Bright House Networks placed second in the South, just slightly behind AT&T; and WideOpenWest was within two points of U-verse in the North Central region. As in years past, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications ranked below average in each of their regions, while Cox Communications beat out the average in the South, East and West. Cablevision Systems placed just below the East average.