The 20 biggest U.S. cable TV and telephone providers — representing about 94 percent of the market — gained 887,000 net additional high-speed Internet subscribers in the second quarter of 2008, according to Leichtman Research Group.
These broadband providers now account for 65.1 million subscribers, 35.3 million of whom subscribe to cable broadband services and 29.7 million to telephone company broadband services.
Other broadband findings for the quarter include:
- The top cable companies added more than 670,000 subscribers, representing 76 percent of the net broadband additions for the quarter vs. the top telephone companies.
- Overall, broadband additions in the second quarter of 2008 amounted to 51 percent of those in the same quarter last year, with cable having 85 percent as many additions as a year ago and telcos having 23 percent.
- The top cable broadband providers have a 54 percent share of the overall market, with a 5.6 million subscriber advantage over the top telephone companies.
Broadband Internet Provider
Subscribers at End of 2Q 2008
Net Adds in 2Q 2008
Cable Companies
Comcast
14,357,000
279,000
Time Warner
8,125,000
201,000
Cox*
3,885,000
40,000
Charter
2,787,300
19,300
Cablevision
2,395,000
52,000
Mediacom
702,000
14,000
Insight
424,600
12,400
CableONE
361,269
4,726
RCN
295,000
4,000
Other Major Private Cable Companies**
2,000,000
45,000
Total Top Cable
35,332,169
671,426
Telephone Companies
AT&T
14,693,000
46,000
Verizon^
8,330,000
54,000
Qwest
2,732,000
31,000
Embarq
1,364,000
24,000
Windstream
934,300
23,300
CenturyTel
607,000
21,000
Frontier^^
559,300
16,280
FairPoint^^^
294,412
(1,166)
Cincinnati Bell
229,000
1,100
Total Top Telephone Companies
29,743,102
215,514
Total Broadband
65,075,184
886,940
Sources: The companies and Leichtman Research Group
* LRG estimate
** Includes LRG estimates for BrightHouse Networks, and Suddenlink
^ No longer includes Northern New England properties now part of FairPoint Communications Corporation
^^ Citizens Communications Company has changed its name to Frontier Communications Corporation
^^^ FairPoint Communications added to the list this quarter
Totals reflect pro forma results from system sales and acquisitions.
Top cable and telephone companies represent about 94 percent of all subscribers.
Company subscriber counts may not represent solely residential households.
For more information, visit: http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/press/081108release.html.
