## US Pay-TV Sheds 1.62 Million, and the Disney-DirecTV Blackout Doesn't Help The number of US pay-TV subscribers fell by 1.62 million in the second quarter of 2023, according to new data from Leichtman Research Group (LRG). This decline is the largest quarterly loss in LRG's 20-year history of tracking the industry, and it brings the total number of pay-TV subscribers in the US to 76.9 million - down 7% from a year ago. The decline in pay-TV subscriptions is being driven by a number of factors, including the growing popularity of streaming services and the rising cost of cable and satellite TV. For example, more than 25 million Americans are said to have cut the cord in 2022 alone. Another study by Hub Entertainment Research found that 70% of US broadband households now subscribe to at least one streaming service. The Disney-DirecTV blackout is likely also a contributing factor to the decline in pay-TV subscriptions. The blackout began on July 1st when Disney refused to renew its carriage agreement with DirecTV. As a result, DirecTV customers lost access to dozens of Disney channels nearly 20 million DirecTV customers at the time of blackout. The blackout has been a major inconvenience for DirecTV customers, and it has also led to some customers switching to other streaming services. For example, Roku reported that it added 1.5 million new users in the month following the start of the blackout. It is unclear how long the Disney-DirecTV blackout will last, but it is clear that it is having a negative impact on the pay-TV industry. The blackout is a reminder of the challenges that the pay-TV industry is facing, and it is likely to lead to further cord-cutting in the months and years to come. ### Conclusion The decline in pay-TV subscriptions is a major trend that is reshaping the media landscape. The Disney-DirecTV blackout is just one example of the challenges that the pay-TV industry is facing. As more and more people cut the cord, it is clear that the pay-TV industry will need to adapt in order to survive.
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