By 1980 , 15 million of the 75 -- 80 million U.S. homes with at least one television set had a cable television subscription .
One prediction was for that number to double by 1985 .
By 1980 , 15 million of the 75 -- 80 million U.S. homes with at least one television set had a cable television subscription , and one prediction was for that number to double by 1985 .