Summary
- • The average monthly cost of cable TV is $217.
- • 75 million households in the US still have cable TV subscriptions.
- • Cable TV viewership dropped by 19% in 2020.
- • The top cable TV network in 2021 was Fox News, with an average of 2.23 million viewers.
- • 48% of cable TV subscribers say they are likely to cut the cord in the next 12 months.
- • Cable TV viewership among adults aged 18-34 dropped by 14% in 2021.
- • The average cable TV subscriber watches 3 hours and 32 minutes of TV per day.
- • Cable TV advertising revenue is expected to reach $66.3 billion in 2022.
- • Comedy Central saw a 23% decrease in cable TV viewership in 2021.
- • Cable TV penetration in the US is 65.4%.
- • CNN's prime-time cable TV viewership dropped by 41% in 2021.
- • The average cable television subscriber pays for 240 channels but only watches 17.
- • ESPN was the top cable TV network in 2020 with an average of 2.49 million viewers.
- • Cable TV advertising revenue is forecasted to decline by 5.2% in 2023.
- • HGTV saw a 26% increase in cable TV viewership in 2021.
Move over, Netflix and chill, because the cable TV game is heating up with a hefty price tag. With an average monthly cost of $217, it seems like viewers are feeling the squeeze. And while 75 million households in the US are still holding onto their subscriptions, cable TV viewership took a 19% nosedive in 2020. Its a wild world out there in cable land, where Fox News reigns supreme with 2.23 million viewers, while 48% of subscribers are eyeing the exit door. As Comedy Central sinks and HGTV soars, one things for sure – the remote control is hot property these days.
Consumer Behavior and Preferences
- 48% of cable TV subscribers say they are likely to cut the cord in the next 12 months.
- The average cable television subscriber pays for 240 channels but only watches 17.
- The average age of a cable TV viewer is 56 years old.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends 9 minutes per day channel surfing.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends $700 per year on additional channel packages.
- 63% of cable TV subscribers also have a subscription to a streaming service.
- The average cable TV subscriber has access to over 8,000 hours of on-demand content.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends 10 minutes per day watching commercials.
- 52% of cable TV subscribers have considered cancelling their service in the past year.
- The average cable TV subscriber has access to over 200 channels.
- 37% of cable TV viewers have noticed an increase in commercials during programming.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends $9.95 per month on DVR service.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends 10 minutes per day searching for something to watch.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends $150 per year on sports channel packages.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends $20 per month on sports channel packages.
- The average cable TV subscriber uses their DVR to record 4 programs per week.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends $15 per month on movie channel packages.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends $25 per month on premium channel packages.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends $35 per month on international channel packages.
Interpretation
In a world where cable TV subscribers pay for more channels than they can count on two hands, spend more time channel surfing than meditating, and fork over a hefty sum for channel packages that could rival a small country's GDP, the question arises: are we truly living the cable dream or are we drowning in a sea of options? As the average age of a cable TV viewer edges closer to retirement, and with a rising tide of viewers eyeing the cord-cutting lifeboat, it seems the traditional cable ship may be taking on water faster than it can bail out. With commercials sneaking into programming like uninvited party crashers and the constant search for that elusive show to watch becoming a daily ritual, perhaps it's time to reevaluate our relationship with the small screen and figure out if it's worth the price tag or if we're just paying for a front-row seat to a channel-flipping circus.
Household Penetration of Cable TV
- 75 million households in the US still have cable TV subscriptions.
- Cable TV penetration in the US is 65.4%.
- Cable TV households in the US have decreased by 21 million since 2014.
- The number of cable TV subscribers in the US decreased by 7% in 2021.
- There were 77 million cable TV subscriptions in the US in 2021.
Interpretation
The latest cable TV viewership statistics in the US paint a picture of a once unshakable giant facing a slow but steady erosion. With 75 million households still holding on to their cable subscriptions, it's clear that the cord-cutting trend is making its mark, as demonstrated by the 21-million decline since 2014 and the 7% drop in subscribers in 2021. The 65.4% penetration rate highlights a shrinking market for traditional television providers. In this digital age of streaming services and on-demand content, cable TV seems to be teetering on the brink of irrelevancy, desperately holding on to its fading glory.
Monthly Cost of Cable TV
- The average monthly cost of cable TV is $217.
- Cable TV advertising revenue is expected to reach $66.3 billion in 2022.
- The average cable TV subscriber receives a monthly bill of $103.
- The average cable TV subscriber spends $1,284 per year on their cable TV subscription.
Interpretation
In the tumultuous world of cable TV, where viewership rules and bills seem to multiply faster than channels, the numbers tell a curious tale. With the average subscriber forking out $217 a month just to keep the screen aglow, it's no wonder that the cable TV industry is raking in a whopping $66.3 billion in advertising revenue every year. Despite the eye-popping bills of $103 landing in mailboxes each month, viewers still manage to shell out a hefty $1,284 annually in the name of entertainment. It seems in this digital age, the remote control may be getting a bit too costly for some viewers' liking.
Top Cable TV Networks
- The top cable TV network in 2021 was Fox News, with an average of 2.23 million viewers.
- ESPN was the top cable TV network in 2020 with an average of 2.49 million viewers.
- The top cable TV network in 2021 among adults 18-49 was ESPN.
- The top cable TV network in 2021 for primetime viewers aged 18-49 was ESPN.
- The top cable TV network in 2021 for total day viewers aged 18-49 was ESPN.
- The top cable TV network for Sunday night primetime viewers aged 18-49 in 2021 was TNT.
- The top cable TV network in 2021 for total day viewers was ESPN.
- The top cable TV network for Monday night viewers aged 18-49 in 2021 was ABC.
- The top cable TV network for Tuesday night viewers aged 18-49 in 2021 was Discovery Channel.
- The top cable TV network for Saturday night viewers aged 18-49 in 2021 was TBS.
- The top cable TV network for Friday night viewers aged 18-49 in 2021 was Bravo.
- The top cable TV network for Thursday night viewers aged 18-49 in 2021 was HGTV.
- The top cable TV network for Wednesday night viewers aged 18-49 in 2021 was USA Network.
- The top cable TV network for Tuesday night viewers aged 18-49 in 2021 was TLC.
Interpretation
In the bustling landscape of cable TV viewership, the numbers tell a curious tale of what captivates audiences across different networks and time slots. While Fox News may have reigned supreme overall in 2021 with its loyal following, it seems the coveted younger demographic gravitated towards the sports-filled embrace of ESPN, making it a powerhouse in primetime and total day viewership. From TNT's Sunday night allure to Bravo's Friday night charm, each network found its niche to shine amidst the sea of channels, proving that in the ever-evolving world of television, there's truly something for everyone. As for the die-hard fans of home improvement and house-hunting adventures, HGTV's Thursday night triumph must've sparked joy like finding the perfect fixer-upper. All in all, these statistics not only reflect viewing habits but also the diverse preferences and interests of audiences, creating a vibrant tapestry of entertainment choices in the realm of cable television.
Viewership Trends
- Cable TV viewership dropped by 19% in 2020.
- Cable TV viewership among adults aged 18-34 dropped by 14% in 2021.
- The average cable TV subscriber watches 3 hours and 32 minutes of TV per day.
- Comedy Central saw a 23% decrease in cable TV viewership in 2021.
- CNN's prime-time cable TV viewership dropped by 41% in 2021.
- Cable TV advertising revenue is forecasted to decline by 5.2% in 2023.
- HGTV saw a 26% increase in cable TV viewership in 2021.
- CNBC's prime-time cable TV viewership increased by 5% in 2021.
- The most-watched cable TV program in 2021 was the NFL Sunday Night Football on NBC.
- Cable TV viewership among adults aged 50+ increased by 4% in 2021.
- Hallmark Channel experienced a 12% growth in cable TV viewership in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership on Saturdays decreased by 8% in 2021.
- The number of cable TV subscribers with premium movie channels decreased by 15% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership during the 2021 NBA Finals dropped by 10% compared to the previous year.
- Cable TV viewership on Wednesdays increased by 5% in 2021.
- Lifetime saw a 15% increase in cable TV viewership in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership during the 2021 World Series increased by 6% compared to the previous year.
- The average cable TV viewer watches 4.1 hours of content per day.
- Cable news networks saw a 10% increase in viewership during the 2020 presidential election.
- Cable TV viewership among Gen Z viewers (age 18-24) decreased by 17% in 2021.
- CNN's viewership increased by 25% in the first quarter of 2021.
- Cable TV viewership among Latinx audiences increased by 8% in 2021.
- The most-watched cable TV program during the COVID-19 pandemic was "Tiger King" on Netflix.
- Cable TV viewership in rural areas increased by 5% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership during the Summer Olympics in 2021 saw a 20% decrease compared to the previous Olympics.
- Viewing of cable TV dramas increased by 15% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership among households with children decreased by 12% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership of reality TV shows increased by 7% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership of children's programming increased by 10% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership of home improvement shows rose by 12% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership of true crime documentaries increased by 8% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership among African American audiences dropped by 6% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership of cooking shows saw a 9% increase in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership among LGBTQ+ audiences increased by 15% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership of wildlife documentaries rose by 7% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership among Hispanic audiences decreased by 9% in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership of home shopping channels saw a 10% increase in 2021.
- Cable TV viewership of nature documentaries rose by 6% in 2021.
Interpretation
In a whirlwind of shifting TV trends, the cable TV landscape of 2021 resembled a rollercoaster ride with highs, lows, and unexpected turns. From the plummeting popularity of traditional cable news networks to the surprising surge in viewership of home improvement and wildlife shows, viewers demonstrated a fascinating mix of preferences. As the industry braces for a forecasted decline in advertising revenue, one thing remains clear: cable TV remains a dynamic arena where the only constant is change, and viewers hold the ultimate power in determining what captures their attention amidst the ever-evolving entertainment landscape.