Most subscribers fear cable companies getting larger

Most subscribers of the county’s top five cable providers say that the companies are too aggressive, too large and not meeting their needs.

Analysis from the consulting firm cg42 shows that 72 percent of the subscribers worry that the larger the cable companies get, the worse off they are.

{mosads}Additionally, 73 percent feel their company “engages in predatory practices and takes advantage of consumers’ lack of choice,” and 53 percent say they would leave their cable provider if they had a choice.

The results are bad news for cable companies like Comcast and Time Warner Cable, which are looking for regulatory approval to complete a proposed $45 billion merger. Consumer advocates have warned regulators that the combined cable giant would be able to have a stranglehold on the market.

In addition to Comcast and Time Warner Cable, the cg42 analysis also surveyed subscribers at Charter, Cox and Cablevision.

The results add up to high vulnerability for the companies’ brands, the analysis firm said.

In all, the cable industry’s brand was pegged to be 50 to 70 percent more vulnerable than other industries like retail banking, which itself does not have a great perception.

If consumers’ frustrations aren’t addressed over the next year, the top five cable companies in the country could miss out on a total of $6.9 billion in revenue, the firm said.

In addition to the Comcast and Time Warner Cable deal, DirecTV is also looking to merge with AT&T, a $48 billion proposal that opponents fear would further limit the options for people looking for TV and Internet access