ABI: Pay-TV Subs to Reach 907 Million in 2013

SINGAPORE: The global pay-TV market added around 47 million subscribers this year, reaching a total of 864 million subs, and ABI Research expects this segment to grow to reach 907 million subscribers in 2013.

The growth for satellite, cable and IPTV markets were strong this year, though digital terrestrial TV growth was relatively flat. In 2013, the worldwide IPTV subscriber base is expected to add more than 9 million subscribers to reach 79.3 million. Of this, more than half are expected to be from the Asia Pacific (China alone is predicted to add more than 3 million subs). The Asia-Pacific markets, notably China and India, are also expected to see strong growth for the cable TV segment. Cable will maintain the largest market share of the overall pay-TV market in 2013. IPTV though, with its rapid growth, will cause cable’s share to decline from 66.2 percent in 2012 to 65.4 percent in 2013.

Currently, 33 percent of worldwide pay-TV subscribers are using HD TV services. The penetration for HD TV is highest in North America, with 84 percent, followed by Western Europe, at 76 percent. The number of HD channels and packages are expected to increase, as various countries complete the switchover to digital. ABI predicts that 38 percent of global pay-TV subs will be subscribing to HD TV services in 2013.