A recent survey found that access to live news was the main reason for Americans to keep live pay TV, with 80 percent of those aged over 35 highlighting live news as the reason why they do not cut the cord and instead rely solely on online video services. Whilst live news was also important to the majority of younger viewers, those aged 18 to 35 years old were more open to canceling their pay TV subscriptions, or only kept them due to a poor internet connection. However all ages agreed that watching new TV episodes as soon as they are broadcast was important, with 57 percent of all respondents citing this as their reason to subscribe to pay TV.
Reasons for subscribing to live pay TV instead of relying on online video services in the United States as of August 2019, by age
Characteristic
18-34
35+
Live news is important to me
51%
80%
I want to watch new TV episodes when they are first broadcast
57%
57%
It is easier to find something to watch
54%
52%
Live sports are important to me
55%
52%
Pay TV is more convenient to use
48%
52%
Pay TV has a better user interface
42%
32%
I am open to canceling my pay TV subscription but others in my household want to keep it
45%
25%
My internet connection is too slow for internet video
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Various sources (Altvil). (January 13, 2019). Reasons for subscribing to live pay TV instead of relying on online video services in the United States as of August 2019, by age [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1133031/reasons-pay-tv-subscription-usa-by-age/
Various sources (Altvil). "Reasons for subscribing to live pay TV instead of relying on online video services in the United States as of August 2019, by age." Chart. January 13, 2019. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1133031/reasons-pay-tv-subscription-usa-by-age/
Various sources (Altvil). (2019). Reasons for subscribing to live pay TV instead of relying on online video services in the United States as of August 2019, by age. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1133031/reasons-pay-tv-subscription-usa-by-age/
Various sources (Altvil). "Reasons for Subscribing to Live Pay Tv Instead of Relying on Online Video Services in The United States as of August 2019, by Age." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 Jan 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1133031/reasons-pay-tv-subscription-usa-by-age/
Various sources (Altvil), Reasons for subscribing to live pay TV instead of relying on online video services in the United States as of August 2019, by age Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1133031/reasons-pay-tv-subscription-usa-by-age/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Reasons for subscribing to live pay TV instead of relying on online video services in the United States as of August 2019, by age [Graph], Various sources (Altvil), January 13, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1133031/reasons-pay-tv-subscription-usa-by-age/
