More Americans paying for TV

Despite a growing range of free, on-demand entertainment options, a new report by research firm SNL Kagan shows pay-TV customers in the US are growing.

The figures show pay-TV viewers has gone from 97 million, at the end of 2008, to 99.9 million, at the end of 2009.

The gain can be explained in part by the nation's gradual population growth, but also by the enduring popularity of television in a fragmented media marketplace.

According to SNL Kagan, cable (Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, among the companies in the category) lost a total of 500 000 subscribers between 2008 and 2009; satellite (DirecTV, Dish Network) gained 1.4 million; and telecommunications (Verizon, AT&T) gained 2 million.

Cable providers still dominate, with 62.1 million subscribers, while satellite competitors have 32.7 million and telecommunications companies have only 5.1 million.