Leichtman Research Group

Leichtman Research Group (LRG) found that the largest cable and wireline phone providers in the US – representing about 96 percent of the market – acquired about 630,000 net additional broadband Internet subscribers in 3Q 2021. These top broadband providers now account for about 107.9 million subscribers, with top cable companies having about 75.2 million broadband subscribers, and top wireline phone companies having about 32.7 million subscribers. Findings for the quarter include:

The largest cable and wireline phone providers in the US – representing about 96% of the market – have added about 15,400,000 subscribers over the past five years (compared to about 14,600,000 net adds over the prior five years). Top broadband providers added 8,000,000 subscribers over the past two years, including about 4,330,000 net adds over the past year, and about 3,670,000 net adds over the prior year. Net broadband additions in the second quarter of 2021, 890,000, were the most in any second quarter in the past decade, except for 2Q 2020.

Leichtman Research Group found that the largest cable and wireline phone providers in the US – representing about 96 percent of the market – acquired about 890,000 net additional broadband Internet subscribers in Q2 2021, compared to a gain of about 1,260,000 subscribers in Q2 2020. These top broadband providers now account for about 107.4 million subscribers, with top cable companies having about 74.7 million broadband subscribers and top wireline phone companies having about 32.7 million. Overall, broadband additions in Q2 2021 were 71 percent of those in Q2 2020.

The largest pay-TV providers in the US – representing about 95% of the market – lost about 1,895,000 net video subscribers in 1Q 2021. The top pay-TV providers now account for about 78.7 million subscribers – with the top seven cable companies having 43.1 million video subscribers, other traditional pay-TV services having about 28.9 million subscribers, and the top publicly reporting Internet-delivered (vMVPD) pay-TV services having about 6.7 million subscribers.

The largest cable and wireline phone providers in the US – representing about 96% of the residential broadband internet access service market – acquired about 1,020,000 net additional broadband Internet subscribers in 1Q 2021. These top broadband providers now account for about 107 million subscribers, with top cable companies having about 73.7 million broadband subscribers, and top wireline phone companies having about 33.3 million subscribers.

The largest cable and wireline phone providers in the US – representing about 96% of the market – acquired about 4,860,000 net additional broadband Internet subscribers in 2020, compared to a pro forma gain of about 2,550,000 subscribers in 2019. These top broadband providers now account for 105.8 million subscribers, with top cable companies having 72.8 million broadband subscribers, and top wireline phone companies having 33 million subscribers. Overall, broadband additions in 2020 were 190% of those in 2019, and more than in any year since 2008. The top cable companies added about 4,820,

86% of US households get an Internet service at home, compared to 84% in 2015 and 82% in 2010.  Broadband accounts for 97% of households with an Internet service at home, and 83% of all households get a broadband Internet service – an increase from 81% in 2015 and 74% in 2010. Among adults with an Internet service at home, the mean self-reported time spent online at home is 5.3 hours per day – up from 3.7 hours per day in 2019, 2.9 hours per day in 2015, and 2.4 hours per day in 2010. Other related findings include:

Leichtman Research Group found that the largest cable and wireline phone providers in the US – representing about 96% of the market – acquired about 1,530,000 net additional broadband Internet subscribers in 3Q 2020, compared to a pro forma gain of about 615,000 subscribers in 3Q 2019. These top broadband providers now account for about 104.9 million subscribers, with top cable companies having about 72 million broadband subscribers, and top wireline phone companies having about 32.9 million subscribers. Findings for the quarter include: