Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $87.4bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Industry enterprises increasingly contend with cord-cutting
- The pandemic posed a challenging time for this industry, expediting cable providers' downward spiral. Overall demand for cable TV subscriptions and the number of US cable TV subscriptions have plummeted. Cable subscription declines can be attributed to the prominence of streaming services as consumers have gravitated to these services due to the vast types of content offered on these platforms.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The industry will undergo rapidly escalating competition from external sources
- While traditional streaming services have entered this industry to offer movies and TV shows, the advantage of cable TV plans has been their instant accessibility to live events, such as sports and news. Even this aspect of this industry will be threatened by services such as YouTube TV, which offers more than 100 local and cable channels and limitless data storage. In fact, recent reports indicate that YouTube TV is now one of the biggest cable providers in the US, having hit 8 million subscribers.
Biggest companies in the Cable Providers in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Comcast Corporation | 15,683.7 | 3,028.6 | 19.3 | |
Charter Communications, Inc. | 15,277.1 | 6,365.5 | 41.7 | |
Verizon Communications Inc. | 5,275.9 | 929.6 | 17.6 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Basic programming packages, Premium programming packages and Pay-per-view programming. Basic programming packages is the largest segment of the Cable Providers in the US.
Trends and Insights
Streaming services siphon away demand from basic programming packages
- Nearly three-quarters of industry revenue is generated from selling basic programming packages. This segment is defined as the minimum package of channels offered by any cable provider, so the exact makeup of the segment shifts based on the company.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry consists of companies that operate wired, third-party distribution systems for broadcast programming. These operators deliver TV programming received from cable networks or local TV stations to consumers via cable infrastructure on a subscription basis. Cable providers also offer internet access and internet protocol telephony services, usually as a package bundled with a cable TV subscription. This industry excludes telecommunications carriers.
What's included in this industry?
Basic programming packagesPremium programming packagesPay-per-view programming packagesCompanies
Comcast CorporationCharter Communications, Inc.Verizon Communications Inc.Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
BASIC CABLEBUNDLED SERVICESHIGH-DEFINITION (HD)CUSTOMER CHURNIndustry Code
NAICS 517311 - Cable Providers in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Cable providers are grappling with the gain of streaming services, leading to a sharp decline in subscriptions. Consumers are increasingly drawn to the diverse and on-demand ...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The industry has failed to capture the younger demographic market, as many consumers under 30 have never been subscribed to a cable provider and instead opt toward streaming. ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Significant vertical integration makes it necessary for major cable providers to expand services in major metropolitan regions like California and New York. Still, suburban a...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
At the most basic level, the industry's external competition includes alternative forms of entertainment that do not require cable broadband. The industry also contends with ...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Comcast is doubling down on broadband. With cable TV subscriber numbers dwindling, they're investing heavily in high-speed internet services, including network upgrades and r...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Comcast Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Charter Communications, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Verizon Communications Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Comcast Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Charter Communications, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Verizon Communications Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Industry revenue has been hindered as cable TV subscriptions have steadily declined since 2011. Despite this, recent inclines in the number of broadband connections and per c...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Vertical integration is set to slash costs for cable providers. By merging with content suppliers, companies like Comcast can better control programming expenses, which have ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States is $87.4bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Cable Providers in the US industry in 2024?
There are 413 businesses in the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 4.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Cable Providers in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Cable Providers market in United States are Comcast Corporation, Charter Communications, Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc.
What does the Cable Providers in the US in United States include?
Basic programming packages and Premium programming packages are part of the Cable Providers in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Cable Providers in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Comcast Corporation.
How competitive is the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Cable Providers in the US industry in United States.
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Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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