Global pay TV market grows by 23 million subscribers

The global pay TV market added 23 million new subscribers in the first two quarters of 2013, marking an increase of 3% according to new figures by ABI Research. 

The firm said that it now expects worldwide pay TV subscribers to reach 895 million by the end of 2013, generating service revenues of US$245 billion (€187 billion).

ABI said that in the first half of the year, telco TV and satellite TV growth was “robust” while cable and terrestrial pay TV services experienced “virtually flat” growth.

Pay TV market growth is expected in all regions of the world, but ABI said that that Asia-Pacific will continue to be the main contributor of subscriber net additions.

It said that the North America Pay TV market is growing at its slowest rate because it’s already saturated with more than 80% penetration and is facing competition from alternative web-based TV services – though said growth will be driven by telco TV.

“North American telco TV operators, such as AT&T and Verizon, have demonstrated strong subscriber additions in the first half of 2013. ABI Research forecasts that more than 1.5 million telco TV subscribers will be added in North America in 2013 to reach 11.9 million subscribers. The region will generate service revenue of USD$10 billion from telco TV service in 2013,” said ABI analyst Khin Sandi Lynn.