Pay-TV revenues for 138 countries increased by $32 billion 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.
Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “Despite its pay-TV revenues being higher in 2016 than in 2010, North America peaked in 2015. 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% to $34.38 billion. Latin America increased by 78% to $18.44 billion. Sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled its total to $4.20 billion.
The US accounted for 49.5% global pay-TV revenues in 2016; slipping below the halfway point for the first time. The 2016 total is down from 54.5% 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.
For more information on the Global Pay-TV Revenue Databook report, see the Broadband TV News webshop.