Poland’s pay-TV market underwent a major transformation last year. Not only did it gain almost new 200,000 subscribers, but also the number of homes receiving DTH-delivered services for the first time exceeded those provided by cable.
Data produced by Nielsen and published by Gazeta Prawna shows that the country’s DTH sector, served by the platforms Cyfrowy Polsat, n and Cyfra +, began 2012 with 4.8 million subscribers, or a 34.3% share of the market.
By the end of the year, this had increased to 5.3 million, or 37.9%, with most of the additional 500,000 new subscribers (330,000) moving over from cable.
During 2012, the number of cable homes fell from around 4.9 million just under 4.6 million.
The transition to digital broadcasting, which will be completed in July this year, is expected to further impact on Poland’s pay-TV market.
When the three DTT multiplexes are fully up and running – a tender for four channels, to replace slots currently occupied by the public broadcaster TVP, is currently under way – the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) believes pay-TV operators could lose up to one million subscribers.
