• by Wayne Friedman , July 5, 2012

U.S. TV homes getting multichannel TV services have not changed much in the last two years.

Leichtman Research Group says 87% of TV homes subscribe to some form of multichannel video service. Earlier research from Leichtman says in 2011, there are some 94 million multichannel subscribers --  nearly 53 million coming cable operators; 34 million from satellite TV companies; and 8 million from telco companies.

All this is up from an 80% level eight years ago in 2004. Nielsen notes there are around 115 million TV homes.

Leichtman reports monthly spending on multichannel video service is up 7% to $78.63. Research also notes household income of those who buy multichannel video subscribers is 53% higher than the household income of nonsubscribers.

Only 6% of those with annual household incomes over $75,000 do not subscribe to a multichannel video service. This compares to 12% with incomes between $30,000 and $75,000, and 27% with incomes under $30,000.

Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, stated: "The defining characteristic of those who do not subscribe to a multichannel video service remains the level of household income."