Michigan’s cable industry sees a steady decline as more consumers opt for streaming services over traditional video and cable subscriptions.
Michigan Cable TV Market Shrinks as Streaming Services Gain Ground
The number of cable and video television providers in Michigan dropped from 31 to 29 in 2024, as subscriber counts continued their long-term decline, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) annual Status of Competition for Video Services report, released today.
In 2024, cable and video service providers reported 1,100,636 subscribers, a drop of 186,874 from the previous year. This marks the third consecutive year of subscriber losses since a brief surge in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trend follows a nationwide shift away from traditional cable and toward internet-based streaming services.
Michigan’s Cable Subscription Decline Mirrors National Trends
Cable TV subscriptions in Michigan peaked in 2015 at 2.3 million customers. Since then, numbers have consistently fallen, reflecting broader national trends where households are turning to streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and YouTube TV instead of traditional cable packages.
Despite the drop in subscribers, the number of franchise agreements between video and cable providers and local municipalities increased from 2,206 in 2023 to 2,274 in 2024. These agreements allow providers to offer services in different areas of the state.
Investments in Michigan Cable Industry Remains Low
While Michigan’s cable industry continues to shrink, some companies are still making financial investments. Seven of the 29 video and cable providers responding to the MPSC survey reported investing more than $1.7 million into Michigan’s cable market in 2024.
However, this investment remains significantly lower compared to previous years, suggesting that providers are focusing less on expanding infrastructure and more on managing customer attrition.
Customer Complaints Drop by 63% in 2024
The MPSC received 808 customer complaints in 2024, a 63% decrease from 2,183 complaints in 2023. The most common complaints involved:
- Cable line issues
- Billing disputes
- Internet service problems
The commission works to resolve disputes between customers, municipalities, and service providers and provides a complaint form on its website for consumers experiencing issues with their providers.
Legislative Recommendations for the Future of Cable Regulation
The MPSC has made several recommendations to the Michigan Legislature to improve oversight and consumer protections:
- Extending the annual report deadline to March 1 to allow more time for accurate data collection.
- Requiring cable providers to submit additional contact information to improve complaint resolution.
- Mandating notification when companies change names, merge, or go out of business.
The MPSC compiles its video and cable report annually and submits it to the Governor and Legislature by February 1. The report is based on survey responses from franchise entities and service providers, excluding satellite TV providers, which are not regulated under Michigan’s Uniform Video Services Local Franchise Act.
For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mpsc, sign up for the MPSC newsletter, or follow the agency on Facebook, Twitter (X), and LinkedIn.
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