Pay-TV Subscriber Losses 1.5-2% Annually in Coming Years, Pivotal Says

Pay-TV penetration declines will likely be in the 1.5 to 2 percent range annually over the next five years -- and even lower if factoring in subscription VOD pay-TV players, Pivotal Research Group's Jeffrey Wlodarczak wrote investors Thursday. He said the growth of virtual multichannel video programming distributors, plus the growing cost to consumers of traditional MVPD service, means the era of traditional pay-TV growth is "likely over" as any modest gains in cable video subscriber growth will be offset by telco and direct broadcast satellite subscriber losses. The analyst said there's "a reasonable chance" the Trump administration and GOP-controlled Congress may "scuttle" the FCC's ability to enforce Title II Communications Act regulation of cable.