Global pay TV subscriptions continue growth

The number of pay tv subscribers is going to grow by 81 million between 2018-24, a rise of 8%.

According to Digital TV Research, the global total is to rise to 1.1 billion people based on forecasts for 138 countries. The number of pay TV subs passed 1 billion in 2018.

Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “Every quarter we hear of alarming cord-cutting in the US. This will continue, with the US losing nearly 10 million subscribers between 2018 and 2024. About 28 of the 138 countries will lose subscribers between 2018 and 2024.”

It is expected that China will supply about a third of the world’s pay TV subscribers, with 356 million expected by 2024. India will bring in another 17% of the total by 2024 – or 187 million. China and India will together provide half the world’s pay TV subscribers by 2024.

IPTV will add 100 million subscribers between 2018 and 2024 to take its total to 357 million. IPTV overtook pay satellite TV subs in 2018. Satellite TV and pay DTT will each grow by only 7 million subs between 2018 and 2024.

Murray continued: “However, it is not all bad news – 110 countries will gain subscribers. Asia Pacific will contribute six of the top 10 countries by pay TV subscriber additions. From the 81 million additional pay TV subs between 2018 and 2024, 29 million will come from India, 16 million from China and 8 million from Indonesia”.

Digital cable TV will add 18 million subs between 2018 and 2024, but analog cable TV will lose 62 million subs – meaning a net loss for cable.