Cost of Content is Top Concern for Asia-Pac Pay-TV Operators

HONG KONG: Rising content acquisition costs are the number one concern for Asia Pacific pay-TV platforms, according to a CASBAA survey, followed by distribution costs and the regulatory environment.

CASBAA notes that 71.4 percent of the respondents listed content costs are their big concern for this year, and 72 percent said that 2011 would be better than last year. Asked about the biggest threats to the Asia-Pac pay-TV business in 2011, respondents cited regulatory issues and piracy. Other concerns include the increasing prominence of established telcos in the pay-TV space, content exclusivity demands by dominant players and IPTV. Queried about upcoming investments, the respondents’ top answers were increased content/channels and expansion/acquisition in current markets.

The survey was conducted among the 24 members of the CASBAA Operators Group, including Astro, Chunghwa Telecommunications, EchoStar, Indovision, JSat, StarHub, Tata Sky and TrueVisions. “The latest Operators Group Survey is an important tool to gauge the prevailing attitudes of the leading platforms across Asia,” said Simon Twiston Davies, the CEO of CASBAA. “The survey provides unique insights directly from the decision makers themselves."

He added, “Born out of these findings, CASBAA works to address regulatory and piracy issues with the comprehensive annual Regulating for Growth overview, as well as a dedicated Wireless Access Group to tackle satellite issues and ongoing intellectual property rights lobbying—to name but a few.”