Online TV platforms will add 63m subscribers between 2020 and 2026 to take its total to 378m.
The global pay-TV industry is on track to add 15m more subscribers between 2020 and 2026 to take the global total to 1.02bn although the market is set to show steady losses in key areas, according to a study by Digital TV Research.
According to the study, 92 countries will add pay-TV subscribers while 46 countries will lose subscribers within the same year. Of the 46 countries that are estimated to suffer a net loss over that period, the US is expected to take the biggest hit.
The report forecasts that IPTV will add 63m subscribers between 2020 and 2026 to take its total to 378m. There will be 412m cable TV subscribers (both analogue and digital) by 2026, 46m lower than the 458m recorded in 2020. Satellite TV will lose 8m subscribers to a total of 203m. Pay DTT will grow by 6m subscribers to reach 25m, with many of its subscribers being in Africa.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “China and India will together continue to provide just under half the world’s pay-TV subscribers. China will lose 10m subscribers between 2020 and 2026 as OTT platforms are more appealing than traditional pay-TV. However, India will add 21m pay-TV subscribers. The US will be the biggest loser – down by 16m subscribers”.
