Cable: A Recession-Proof Industry

The Illinois legislature will act this session to renew the Cable and Video Competition Act (“the Cable Act”) that must be renewed before October of 2013. The Illinois Cable Television and Communications Association is now seeking changes to the Cable Act that will cut back funding and channels for the public, further reduce local regulatory controls, and create an unlevel playing field with other video providers.

Cable companies often point to the fiscal pressures caused by a competitive market as sufficient reason for more deregulation. But let's look at the facts. The number of U.S. cable TV subscribers decreased over the last decade. But at the same time, the average monthly cable bill went up 84% (see chart below). From 2001 to 2011, cable TV in the U.S. grew from a $37.5 billion to a $56.9 billion industry. And when you add in Internet and telephone, you’re up to a whopping $97.6 billion by 2011, with total cable industry revenue doubling since 2001. The upshot is that unlike most local communities across the state, the cable industry saw revenues climb right through the recession.