Comcast Has More Broadband Than Cable Customers

The Internet is taking over television, reports the NY Times.

That shift is occurring at Comcast, where the number of people who subscribe to the company’s Internet service surpassed its total video subscribers for the first time during the second quarter this year.

Announced in an earnings call on Monday, the development signals a major turning point in the technological evolution sweeping across the media business, as the Internet becomes the gateway for information and entertainment.

Comcast, the country’s largest cable operator, abandoned its $45 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable last month after the deal drew regulatory scrutiny regarding concerns that the combined company would have too much control over the Internet.

Comcast is already the country’s largest broadband provider, with more than 22 million high-speed Internet customers.

Brian L. Roberts, Comcast’s chief executive, said in the call that the company was disappointed about the collapse of the deal but had moved on. He said that Comcast’s top priorities now were to advance its existing business and improve its poorly rated customer service.



Comcast reported a 10 percent increase in earnings in the first quarter, largely because of growth in its high-speed Internet business.

Total revenue inched up 2.6 percent to $17.9 billion during the quarter compared with the period last year, the company said.