Brief: Consumers Like TV, Phone, Web 'Bundles'

U.S. consumers appear to like the "bundles" of TV, phone or Internet services they are offered by telecommunications and cable companies, according to a poll conducted by the Leichtman Research Group (LRG).

The market research firm reported Monday that 43 percent of the 1600 consumers interviewed said their households receive a bundle from a single company. In the previous year's poll, 33 percent said they received a bundle.

"The combination of TV, high-speed Internet and telephone services is becoming increasingly important for both providers and consumers," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for LRG, in a statement. "Those who are most likely to receive bundled services tend to be younger and wealthier than average."

Noting that cable subscribers who receive a bundle of services are less likely to switch away from cable TV than subscribers with a single service, Leichtman said bundles provide "stickiness" for service providers