Today on Computer Insider, we’re going to talk about cutting the cord. It’s tough to get real answers of just how fast this is happening as the companies who own both the cable and phone companies also own the radio and television stations, for the most part, who report the news that would in an open fair market talk on these activities, but alas, not in this country. If someone were to go on air and proudly announced that by 2021 almost half of the households in the  country will have dumped both traditional phones and kicked cable TV out, there would be an almost immediate job opening at the station.

Last year consumers canceled traditional cable TV service at a much faster rate than previously expected. US reports say that 22.2 households cut the cord on cable, satellite or telco TV service, that’s an increase of 1/3 from 2016. Ouch. That’s got to hurt the corporate pocketbook. 33% from 16.7 million in 2016 — the researcher now predicts. It’s also opened up a new category, “cord-nevers”, people who have never subscribed to cable TV. There are 34.4 million of them today.

Overall, 196.3 million North American adults subscribing to traditional cable, satellite or telco TV services this year, down 2.4% compared with 2016. By 2021, that will drop to 181.7 million, a decline of nearly 10% from 2016. The number of cable viewers 55 and older will continue to rise over the next four years, while for every other age cohort the subscriber tallies will decline.

Reporting for Computer Insider, I’m Bob Pritchard