IPTV emerges as winner with 36 million subscribers forecasted to join over the next six years.
The number of pay-TV subscribers across 138 countries is forecast to remain at just under 1bn, according to the latest report from Digital TV Research. The report predicts a slight decline until 2025, with a small recovery thereafter.
Global pay-TV penetration is expected to reach 56% of TV households by the end of 2023, falling slightly to 54% by the end of 2029.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “IPTV is the pay-TV winner. IPTV will add 36m subscribers between 2023 and 2029 to take its total to 412m. IPTV overtook pay satellite TV subscribers in 2018 and will overtake digital cable in 2024”.
Between 2023 and 2029, 82 countries will add and 56 will lose pay TV subscribers. The US will be the biggest loser – down by 10m subscribers.