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Documentary Business

Peter Hamilton Consultants, Inc

U.S. Cable Channels: Legacy networks retain significant if declining footprints

We often listen in to discussions about the rise of Netflix and the streamers as if cable / satellite channels have gone the way of VHS tapes.

Not so fast!

Byron Media‘s John Morse generously shared a 4Q 2021 snapshot of the distribution footprints of U.S. cable channels, filtered here for documentary/unscripted buyers and news programmers.

The data provides useful context for tomorrow’s Desktop Documentaries‘ webinar with programming guru Dan Salerno.

ChannelU.S. HH (000)
A&E75,139
AMC76,341
AccuWeather33,496
American Heroes36,748
BBC America70,854
BET74,459
BRAVO76,853
Baby First38,843
Black News42,749
CNBC70,411
CNN78,295
Cooking Channel45,916
DISCOVERY78,931
DIY40,528
Destination America30,920
Discovery En Espanol6,325
Discovery Familia5,697
Discovery Family37,189
Discovery Life31,558
E!77,132
FOOD79,842
FOX NEWS76,810
FUSE34,178
FX77,733
FYI47,368
HGTV79,758
HISTORY75,254
HLN76,241
ID Investigation Discovery78,080
JUSTICE CENTRAL47,177
LIFETIME74,773
LOGO27,430
MSNBC70,912
MTV74,614
MTV254,959
Motor Trend66,664
Nat Geo Wild50,117
National Geographic76,709
Newsmax50,296
OWN66,360
OXYGEN64,120
Ovation32,168
POP65,342
Paramount68,414
Pursuit23,930
Reelz41,953
SCIENCE47,739
SYFY73,524
Smithsonian39,897
Sundance62,322
TBS78,813
TLC78,099
TNT78,626
TRAVEL76,081
TRU74,199
WEATHER66,972
Cowboy22,570
UP50,305
USA77,770
VH174,676
Vice59,048
WEtv71,761

Takeaways

Legacy channel operators like Discovery, Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal and others are balancing the launch of their streaming platforms with the need to continue programming their networks that enjoy enviable if declining distribution, audiences and revenues.

For a comparison with 2018 distribution footprints, read John Morse’s Factual Channels Continue to Lose Distribution & Revenues.


About Byron Media

Thanks to John Morse and Byron Media for today’s distribution data.

Dr Morse is a longtime valued partner who specializes in audience profiling for all media including production companies, channels and streaming services. 

Byron’s research has been widely used by industry organizations for 25+ years.

Contact John for more information.  He can help with audience measurement and documenting the value of viewers for producers and sponsors using a combination of primary and syndicated research.

  • Visit www.ByronMedia.com.
  • Or call his NYC office at 516-627-5634 for a complimentary evaluation of your company’s research needs.