Global pay-TV revenues up $32bn

Pay-TV revenues for 138 countries increased by $32 billion (€28.56bn) between 2010 and 2016 to reach $202 billion. However, only $1.23 billion was added in 2016, according to the Global Pay TV Revenue Databook from Digital TV Research.

“Despite its pay-TV revenues being higher in 2016 than in 2010, North America peaked in 2015,” advised Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research. “Its 2016 total was $1.77 billion down on 2015. Although no decline was recorded, European pay-TV revenue growth has slowed down considerably.”

More positively, the Asia Pacific region added $10.21 billion between 2010 and 2016 – up by 42 per cent to $34.38 billion. Latin America increased by 78 per cent to $18.44 billion. Sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled its total to $4.20 billion.

The US accounted for 49.5 per cent global pay-TV revenues in 2016; slipping below the halfway point for the first time. The 2016 total is down from 54.5 per cent in 2010. The US is followed (a long way behind) by China, the UK, Japan, and Canada. These five countries generated two-thirds of global pay-TV revenues in 2016.

Half of the $32 billion extra revenues generated between 2010 and 2016 came from four countries: the US provided $7 billion, China $4 billion, Brazil $3 billion and India $2 billion. However, revenues declined in nine countries, mainly due to subscribers converting from standalone TV to bundles (which are less lucrative for TV). Pay-TV revenues more than doubled in 59 countries between 2010 and 2016.