Cable cord cutting threatens public access TV and MRVTV
Cable television subscriptions are declining and it’s jeopardizing Mad River Valley Television (MRVTV), The Valley’s public access television station. According to a new Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults, the share of Americans who watch television via cable or satellite has plunged from 76% in 2015 to 56% in 2021. In The Valley, MRVTV board members have noticed a 7% yearly reduction in cable income over the past two years due to cord cutting. If this trend continues, MRVTV will likely be out of business within the next four years.
“People are cord cutting. They’re dropping cable and choosing to pay for streaming services,” said Rob Perry, executive director of MRVTV. While MRVTV derives some income from donations and sponsors, the majority of MRVTV income comes from a cable grant that supports public, educational and governmental (PEG) access channels.