Every year cable raises its rates. Beyond that was
there any increase?
The economy may stink, but consumers are clinging to their entertainment and mobile subscriptions.
According to NPD, monthly per capita entertainment subscriptions rose to $115, up 7 percent from a year ago.
The breakdown from NPD is notable. To wit:
- As of August, 81 percent of U.S households subscribed to a television service (cable, satellite and fiber-optic).
- 76 percent have an Internet subscription.
- 17 percent subscribe to an online music service or satellite radio.
- 14 percent subscribe to an online gaming service.
- Mobile data subscription plans were 9 percent, up from 6 percent last year.
- 14 percent of consumers had a home-video subscription service like Netflix, up 2 percent from a year ago.
- 29 percent of Americans had a newspaper subscription, down 2 percent from a year ago (you’d think it would be worse).
- And 41 percent of consumers subscribed to magazines, down from 43 percent from a year ago.
