IPTV to Add 100 Million Subs

LONDON: The number of homes paying for IPTV is expected to reach 167 million by the end of 2018, with the largest gains coming from the Asia Pacific, according to a new report from Digital TV Research.

There were a reported 69 million subs at the end of 2012, so this represents a gain of 98 million subscribers; of this, 71 million will be in the Asia-Pacific region, representing 73 percent of new subscribers. The Asia Pacific will account for 64 percent of global IPTV subs by 2019.

Of the subscribers reported at end-2012, half of the top 10 were in the Asia Pacific. China will supply 76 million (46 percent) for the 2018 total, up from 23 million (33 percent) in 2012. India will contribute 4.7 million IPTV subs by 2018, up from the 153,000 at end-2012. Russia is also forecast for strong growth.

Revenue from IPTV will increase to $21.3 billion in 2018, up from $12 billion in 2012. The Asia Pacific's share of the global total will increase from 13 percent in 2008 to 34 percent by 2018. There is $9.3 billion in additional revenue expected between 2012 and 2018; of this the U.S. will provied $1.9 billion. The Asia Pacific will contribute an additional $4 billion, led by China (+$1.7 billion) and Japan (+$1.1 billion).