Western Europe Braces for “Self-Imposed Cord-Cutting”

Digital TV Research is forecasting that Western Europe will lose nearly 9 million pay-TV subscribers between 2023 and 2029 to reach 93 million, down by 8 percent.

Pay TV subs are expected to fall in 14 of the 18 countries between 2023 and 2029. Germany will lose 2.7 million subs, with the U.K. down by 2.0 million, Italy by 1.5 million and France by 1.1 million.

IPTV, though, will gain 1 million subscribers between 2023 and 2029. Pay satellite TV is expected to be down by 6.4 million, pay DTT down by 0.8 million and cable down by 2.4 million.

Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “Pay satellite TV will be the biggest loser because most DTH platforms do not offer broadband access. This is not true of Sky, which wants to convert its satellite TV subscribers to its streaming platforms. Sky will lose 1.8 million satellite TV subs in both Germany and the U.K. as well as a further 1.3 million in Italy—or nearly 5 million in its five territories between 2023 and 2029.”