America’s rural areas now have more direct broadcast satellite (DBS) subscribers than cable subscribers, according to a new study from The Leichtman Research Group.
DBS now accounts for more than 25 million subscribers nationwide. The survey found that 42 percent of individuals who define themselves as living in a rural area report that they subscribe only to DBS. That’s up from 38 percent in 2004. Cable has 37 percent of rural viewers, a number that has not grown since 2004. Two percent subscribe to both providers.
While DBS has made recent gains in urban and suburban areas, cable still has nearly a 4-1 subscriber advantage in these areas. Leichtman said 63 percent report that they subscribe only to cable while 17 percent use DBS. Two percent of urban viewers subscribe to both cable and DBS.
Meanwhile, 4 million U.S. households are now using digital video cameras and editing software every month to create movies at home, with roughly 750,000 doing so on a weekly basis, said Parks Associates’ Global Digital Living.
A study of consumer technology trends found movie making is a growing niche market for technology products in the United States. Recent examples of homemade movies, including “Star Wars” fan films and the theatrical release of “My Date with Drew”, is fueling interest in digital video and drives the purchase and use of digital camcorders and video editing software, the researchers said.
For additional information on the study, visit www.parksassociates.com.
