IBC 2012 – AMSTERDAM. SES expects the global pay-TV market to increase a further $37 billion (€29.1 billion) in size by 2016.
Speaking at a mini conference session entitled Global Media Demand Drivers, Christian Olsson said Europe would account for 30% of this growth, followed by South America with 26%, Asia Pacific 25%, North America 17% and Middle East/Africa 2%.
Significantly, the growth would be split 50/50 between developed and developing markets. Olsson added that pay-TV penetration in North America would fall from 84% this year to 81% in 2016, while that in Europe would rise from 57% to 61%.
Increases would also be seen in South America (38% to 41%), the Middle East/Africa (10% to 11%) and Asia Pacific (58% to 61%).
Furthermore, the number of DTH homes would grow by 86 million in Asia Pacific between now and 2015, and even by 6 million in both WE and CEE.
Olsson also said the number of HD channels worldwide would increase from 4,000 in 2011 to 17,000 in 2021.