The top 10 service providers in the United States that provide figures collectively lost 862,800 television subscribers in the third quarter of 2020, as reported by the informitv Multiscreen Index. 8 of the top 10 services in the United States lost television subscribers in the third quarter, although their combined losses were lower than in the previous quarters of 2020. The leading services have lost 4.72 million television subscribers between them in the first three quarters of 2020.
Comcast lost 253,000 television subscribers in the third quarter, compared to a loss of 427,000 the previous quarter, taking its total to 19.22 million, down from 20.42 million a year previously.
AT&T lost 627,000 subscribers across its satellite, telco and online television platforms, compared to a loss of 952,000 in the previous quarter, with a total of 17.78 million.
Charter reported a gain of 53,000 television customers, building on an increase of 102,000 the previous quarter, taking its total to 15.71 million, which is around the same as a year ago.
DISH Network lost 57,000 satellite subscribers, although it gained 205,000 Sling TV online subscribers, ending the quarter with a combined total of 11.42 million television subscribers.
Verizon lost 61,000 Fios television subscribers, with its 15th consecutive quarterly subscriber loss, reducing its total to 3.93 million.
Altice USA lost 67,800 television subscribers, continuing its run of quarterly subscriber losses, ending with a total of 3.04 million.
Mediacom and Frontier lost 13,000 and 42,000 subscribers respectively and now have 1.18 million between them.
| Service | Change quarter |
Subscribers m |
|---|---|---|
| -862,800 | 72.28 | |
| Comcast | -253,000 | 19.22 |
| AT&T Premium TV | -590,000 | 17.10 |
| Charter Spectrum | 53,000 | 15.71 |
| DISH Network | -57,000 | 8.96 |
| Verizon FiOS | -61,000 | 3.93 |
| Altice USA | -67,800 | 3.04 |
| Sling TV | 205,000 | 2.46 |
| AT&T TV NOW | -37,000 | 0.68 | Mediacom | -13,000 | 0.66 |
| Frontier | -42,000 | 0.52 |
“The rate of television subscriber decline in the United States has reduced since the first quarter of 2020, when the top 10 services had combined losses of 2.33 million,” observed Dr William Cooper, the editor of the informitv Multiscreen Index. “There is still a secular decline in this mature market, but it is important to remember that six out of ten television homes in the United States still subscribe to one of these services.”
The top 10 services for the United States in the Multiscreen Index now have 72.28 million television customers between them, accounting for just under 60% of television homes.
Subscriber numbers are as reported by service providers, rather than analyst estimates. Cox Communications is not included in the top 10 as it does not report subscriber numbers.
The Multiscreen Index provides an industry benchmark of the relative performance of television service providers against which customer gains or losses can be measured.