2020 U.S. multichannel video loss tops 7 million, virtual subscription momentum slows in Q4

Rhea-AI Summary

In 2020, traditional U.S. multichannel video subscriptions fell by nearly 7.2 million, as reported by Kagan, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence. While virtual multichannel services gained 2.7 million subscribers, this was not enough to counterbalance the losses from cable, telco, and satellite providers, which slowed in Q4 to 1.5 million. The report indicates 6.8 million households cut the cord in 2020, with total penetration of live-channel packages dropping below 67%, and less than 57% of U.S. households now holding traditional multichannel subscriptions.

Positive

• Virtual multichannel services added an estimated 2.7 million subscribers in 2020.

Negative

• Traditional multichannel subscriptions saw a decline of 7.2 million in 2020.
• Traditional subscription losses remained significant, with 1.5 million in Q4 alone.
• The total penetration of live linear channels fell below 67%, indicating a decrease in overall market interest.

NEW YORK, March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Traditional U.S. multichannel plumbed new depths in 2020 with a decline of nearly 7.2 million subscriptions, according to full market estimates from Kagan, a media research group within S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Virtual multichannel services blunted the overall erosion of people taking a package of live linear channels, but the estimated 2.7 million new subscribers for the services that increasingly resemble the traditional services being displaced fell short of offsetting cable, telco and satellite defections.

Losses for those traditional cable, telco and satellite providers slowed in the fourth quarter but the full-year decline underscored that the impacts of the pandemic amplified cord cutting instead of insulating an industry built around home entertainment.

The fourth quarter offered an overall improvement in traditional subscription losses at 1.5 million, but the virtual segment did not maintain the surprising momentum from the third quarter, tallying a tepid estimated gain of 223,000 to finish the year at nearly 12.5 million subscriptions.

"Americans continue to leave traditional video services in droves, with 6.8 million households cutting the cord in 2020," said Tony Lenoir, senior analyst with Kagan.

Additional penetration takeaways from Kagan's full year 2020 report:  

• The combined penetration of traditional and virtual subscriptions, which accounts for the total households in the U.S. taking a package of live, linear channels, dropped below 67% at year end.
• The percentage of households in the U.S. with a traditional multichannel subscription dropped to less than 57%.

S&P Global Market Intelligence's Kagan research team provides in-depth coverage and deep analyses of the global technology, media and telecommunications sectors (TMT). This TMT research offering complements S&P Global Market Intelligence's broad universe of research sector coverage including energy, enterprise technology, financial institutions groups, leveraged loans, and metals & mining.

S&P Global Market Intelligence's opinions, quotes, and credit-related and other analyses are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendation to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or to make any investment decisions, and do not address the suitability of any security.

About S&P Global Market Intelligence
At S&P Global Market Intelligence, we understand the importance of accurate, deep and insightful information. We integrate financial and industry data, research and news into tools that help track performance, generate alpha, identify investment ideas, perform valuations and assess credit risk. Investment professionals, government agencies, corporations and universities around the world use this essential intelligence to make business and financial decisions with conviction.

S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, offering ESG solutions, deep data and insights on critical business factors. S&P Global has been providing essential intelligence that unlocks opportunity, fosters growth and accelerates progress for more than 160 years. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence.

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S&P Global | Market Intelligence
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SOURCE S&P Global Market Intelligence

FAQ

What was the total decline in traditional multichannel subscriptions in 2020 for SPGI?

Traditional multichannel subscriptions declined by nearly 7.2 million in 2020.

How many new subscribers did virtual multichannel services gain in 2020 according to SPGI?

Virtual multichannel services gained approximately 2.7 million new subscribers in 2020.

What percentage of U.S. households had a traditional multichannel subscription by the end of 2020?

Less than 57% of U.S. households had a traditional multichannel subscription by the end of 2020.

How many households cut the cord in 2020 as reported by SPGI?

Approximately 6.8 million households cut the cord in 2020.

What was the estimated subscriber change for virtual multichannel services in Q4 2020 according to SPGI?

Virtual multichannel services experienced a tepid gain of approximately 223,000 subscribers in Q4 2020.