TV Subscriber Numbers Show Slower Growth Globally

The 100 leading TV services in the informitv Multiscreen Index gained 3.46 million subscribers between them in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of less than 1 percent.

The gain of 0.79 percent compares to the 1.68-percent lift seen in the same period in 2016.

In the latest quarter, there were modest gains across the board, with the Americas up by 0.85 million; Europe, the Middle East and Africa up by 0.21 million; and the Asia Pacific gaining 2.39 million. Of the 100 services in the index, 46 reported net subscriber gains. The ten with the largest gains added 3.58 million between them. The top ten services in the U.S. reported total losses of 559,000 subscribers, with only Comcast reporting significant gains. Leading operators in India gained at least 1.67 million subscribers between them, led by SITI, which added 800,000. In Europe, Canal+ lost 109,000 subscribers in France, while Sky gained 73,000 in Germany and 40,000 customers in the U.K. and Ireland.

“Figures for the first quarter show the lowest rate of worldwide subscriber growth we have seen,” said Dr. William Cooper, the editor of the Multiscreen Index. “There is still growth in the Asia-Pacific region but at a lower rate than previously.”

Analyst Dr. Sue Farrell added: “95 percent of homes subscribing to the services in the Multiscreen Index have access to services that can be viewed on a screen other than the traditional television; 97 percent of services in the Americas now offer a multiscreen service.”