The average price subscribers to multichannel video are paying for their TV privileges is up a sizable 3% from a year ago, according to a report by Multichannel News citing a survey by Leichtman Research Group.

The average subscriber now pays $73.35 a month. Meanwhile, the number of households that subscribe is leveling off. The survey shows 87% of households suscribing to television via cable, satellite or telco.

Said LRG President Bruce Leichtman: "The overall percentage of U.S. households subscribing to a multichannel video service is as high as it has ever been, but it is leveling off." He noted that pay-TV penetration was 80% in 2004, the story reports.

So-called “cord-cutting”–dropping pay TV service–was consistent with recent years, according to the report. The survey found that about 9% of subscribers with household incomes below $30,000 said they’re likely to drop their pay-TV service in the next six months.