Satellite TV Curbs Cable’s Growth

Competition from high-powered satellite TV services is causing cable TV subscriber levels to stagnate, according to the Federal Communications Commission‘s (FCC) annual study of television competition.

However, cable remains the predominant technology for the delivery of video programming. Ten years ago, cable operators served almost 100 percent of the U.S. subscribers to multichannel video programming distribution (MVPD) services, but that market share slipped to 75 percent by June 2003. High-powered satellite TV service providers accounted for 22 percent and other video delivery technologies took the remaining 3 percent.

For more on this story, check out the Feb.2 issue of SATELLITE NEWS. For information on subscribing to PBI Media’s newsletters, check out our Web site at www.satellitetoday.com.