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Based on earnings reports this week from Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DirecTV and Dish Network, it appears some 400,000 Americans cut the cord for one reason or another during the second quarter, Reuters reports. That number is likely to grow after Cablevision and Cox report next week. The data set off the usual debate over whether the losses represent a cyclical downturn due to the tough economy or a secular trend. At AllThingsD, Peter Kafka even disputes that the data represent a trend at all, noting normal seasonal variations in subscriber churn could explain the numbers. The really interesting twist in the data this time around, though, is that Comcast, TWC and DirecTV all reported significant increases in net profits for the quarter, thanks to increased broadband subscriptions and increased ARPU. So maybe the debate over the trend line is moot?