US broadband subscribers surpass cable TV customers

The number of US broadband subscribers exceeded the number of US cable TV subscribers for the first time in the second quarter of the year, according to Leichtman Research Group.

The new research found that there were 49.915 million broadband subscribers at the end of 2Q 2014, compared to 49.910 million cable TV subscribers.

This came after the 17 largest cable and telephone providers in the US –

representing about 93% of the market – added nearly 385,000 high-speed internet subscribers in the second quarter.

“With the addition of more than 30 million broadband subscribers over the past decade, cable providers have clearly expanded well beyond their roots in cable TV service,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group.

“As of the end of 2Q 2014, the top cable providers now have more broadband subscribers than cable TV subscribers.”

Comcast was found to be the largest broadband internet cable company with a total of 21.27 million subscribers at the end of Q2, having added 203,000 customers in the quarter.