A recent survey has found that the number of OTA-only households in the US has grown from 15% in 2015 to 17% in 2016. I think that this is a reflection of several factors:
- Many households find cable/satellite too expensive for what it offers
- Streaming services still cost money, and as this NYTimes article pointed out, there are some drawbacks.
- Broadcast TV signals can provide high quality HD images and in many ways still provide a better user experience that is easier to use and has less lag.
Interestingly, the number of households that were Internet streaming also grew from 4% to 6%. In terms of percentage, it is definitely much faster growth, but it’s interesting to consider that the number of OTA only households is almost three times as large.
For what it’s worth, my household has been OTA-only since 2012, and I’m a big fan of having an OTA DVR and of not paying any subscription fees.