According to a TVB analysis of Nielsen Media Research data for May 2004, more American TV households are receiving cable programming via an alternate delivery system (ADS) than ever before, while
wired cable penetration has hit a nine-year low. According to Nielsen NTI data, national ADS penetration reached 18.9% in May 2004, up from 17.0% in May 2003. Direct broadcast satellite (DBS)
delivery, the largest component of ADS, is now estimated at 18.0%, up from 15.8% in May 2003. Over the same period, wired cable penetration fell from 68.1% to 67.1%-the last time wired cable was
lower was in March 1995.