Typical consumer wastes $1,600+ per year on unwatched cable channels: Report

"Examining data from external studies as well as its own survey, CableTV.com found that though consumers have the choice of hundreds of channels - for example, Verizon Fios offers some 400 channels in its top-tier plans - consumers, on average, watch only about 15 channels. With cable bills continuing to rise, that means consumers are paying more for channels they don't watch,"

"Citing a MNTN Research study, the report noted that nearly two-thirds (62%) of customers think they're wasting money on their average cable TV bill. The research further found that consumers are paying an average of $147 per month for cable, receiving an average of 195 channels - meaning 180 (92%) go unwatched. If that same 92% of the average monthly bill is considered wasted, consumers spend a little more than $1,600 per year for unwatched channels."

"As ChannelTV.com pointed out, the monthly per-channel cost for channels consumers actually watch - about $9 per channel - is roughly equivalent to the monthly cost of many streaming services. Of course, cable packages come with a variety of offerings for a variety of fees. The majority of CableTV.com's survey respondents were in the $50-$99 or $100-$149 per month ranges (14,767 total respondents), with another 6,700 saying they pay $150 or more for their services."

Consumers enroll in cable packages offering hundreds of channels but typically watch about 15 channels. Average subscribers receive about 195 channels while paying roughly $147 per month, leaving about 92% of channels unwatched. Nearly 62% of customers perceive their cable bills as wasteful. The unwatched share equates to slightly more than $1,600 per year in paid-but-unused channels. The monthly cost for channels actually watched, about $9 per channel, aligns with many streaming service prices. A large share of cable subscribers also pay for at least one streaming service. Many subscribers pay between $50 and $149 monthly, with a substantial group paying $150 or more.

Read at Telecompetitor