Report Charts Continued Growth of Satellite TV

PARIS: A new report from Euroconsult has found that the number of satellite TV platforms worldwide rose to 113 in 2009, a 38-percent gain over a three-year period.

According to Satellite TV Platforms, World Survey & Prospects to 2019, Growth Through the Crisis, the platforms reach 131 million subscribers and earned $70 billion revenues in 2009. "Subscriber growth in the satellite pay-TV market has been robust, increasing 15 percent worldwide,” said Pacôme Revillon, the CEO of Euroconsult. “Growth in emerging digital markets has been particularly strong with subscribers reaching the 60 million mark in 2009, a nearly five-fold increase over the previous few years. Looking forward, the market is expected to remain bright with Euroconsult forecasting roughly 235 million subscribers worldwide by 2019.”

Most markets experienced satellite TV revenue gains in 2009, the report notes, excluding Europe. However, the rate of revenue growth was slower than that of subscriber growth, largely as a result of competitive pricing.

Looking ahead, Euroconsult sees tremendous growth opportunities in emerging markets, where the number of satellite TV platforms rose from 30 in 2000 to 88 in 2009, with the subscriber base increasing from 11.9 million in 2003 to almost 60 million lat year. In developed markets, satellite TV continues to fare well, the report says, despite competition from IPTV and DTT services. New offerings, such as HDTV and DVRs, have been driving gains for DTH platforms. By the end of 2009, 46 satellite pay-TV platforms had already rolled out HD services, up from 21 at the end of 2007, while DVR services were being offered by more than 50 platforms, up from 29 in 2007. Next up will be 3D, with Sky in the U.K. slated to be the first DTH platform offering a 3D service next year.

The satellite TV industry is expected to reach close to 240 million subscribers worldwide within the next ten years, with emerging markets—including India, Russia and Brazil—accounting for 70 percent of the total base by 2019, as compared with 45 percent last year. The next few years will also see consolidation in certain markets, Euroconsult predicts.