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Cable television broadcasting industry

TV Cable, Pay & Broadcast Networks Industry in the US Shows Significant Concentration and Revenue

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The US TV cable, pay, and broadcast network industry is a massive market, comprising approximately 2,600 networks and stations that generate combined annual revenue of $57 billion. Major players in the market include ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC as major broadcast TV networks, while Discovery Channel, ESPN, CNN, and TNT are among the prominent TV cable networks. Large non-network station groups like Sinclair Broadcast Group, Hearst Television, and Raycom Media also play a significant role in the industry. However, the market is characterized by high concentration, with the top 50 companies accounting for 80% of revenue.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US TV cable, pay, and broadcast network industry is highly concentrated, with the top 50 companies accounting for 80% of revenue.
  • The industry comprises approximately 2,600 networks and stations with combined annual revenue of $57 billion.
  • Major broadcast TV networks include ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, while prominent TV cable networks are Discovery Channel, ESPN, CNN, and TNT.
  • Large non-network station groups such as Sinclair Broadcast Group, Hearst Television, and Raycom Media are significant players in the industry.
  • The market is driven by business advertising, program popularity, and consumer demographics, with profitability depending on factors such as advertising volume, programming mix, and efficient operations.
  • Large companies have an advantage due to market dominance, while small companies can compete effectively by offering targeted programming.
  • The average annual industry revenue per employee is $350,000, with broadcast TV averaging $257,000 per worker and cable TV about $651,000.

Statistics:

  • The US TV cable, pay, and broadcast network industry comprises approximately 2,600 networks and stations.
  • The industry generates combined annual revenue of $57 billion.
  • The top 50 companies hold 80% of revenue in the industry.
  • The industry includes about 2,000 broadcast TV firms and over 600 cable/subscription firms.
  • Broadcast TV accounts for slightly over half of industry revenue (52%), while cable TV accounts for slightly less than half (48%).
  • Average annual industry revenue per employee is $350,000.
  • Broadcast TV averages $257,000 per worker, and cable TV averages $651,000 per worker.

Sources:

  • "TV Cable, Pay & Broadcast Networks" report by Research and Markets http://www.researchandmarkets.com/report/42f3d1/tv_cable_pay_broadcast_networks_research_report_covers_the_latest_analysis_of_industry_volume_flows_competitive_portrait_and-key_driver.
  • Sinclair Broadcast Group: http://www.sbgi.net
  • Hearst Television: https://hearsttelevision.com
  • Raycom Media: https://raycommedia.com
  • Research and Markets: http://www.researchandmarkets.com

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