MENA Pay-TV Revenues Slide

Pay-TV revenues across the Middle East and North Africa continue to decline, according to Digital TV Research, with 2026 revenues expected to be 23 percent lower than those in 2016.

Between 2016 and 2020, pay-TV revenues across the region were down 14 percent to $2.74 billion. By 2026 they will be down to $2.5 billion.

“Five countries will contribute 78 percent of the region’s pay-TV revenues in 2026,” said Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research. “Turkey and Israel together will supply nearly half of the total. There are few winners. Eight of the 20 countries will lose revenues between 2020 and 2026.”

In 2026, Turkish pay-TV revenues will be $752 million, 17 percent lower than the peak in 2016, while subs will rise from 7.27 million in 2020 to 7.64 million. Israel, meanwhile, will shed 28 percent of its subs between 2020 and 2026, while revenues will halve between 2016 and 2026. Across MENA’s 13 Arabic-speaking countries, revenues will remain at about $1 billion, with subs up 18 percent to 4 million.