Worldwide digital cable set-top box unit shipments increased by 10% in 2012 and are expected to continue to increase modestly in 2013 with revenues of nearly $20 million.
US research firm MRG continues to watch and analyse the shift from analogue and SD to digital and HD respectively. These shifts are driving the deployment of the digital set-top box, particularly in countries like China and India, the first and second largest cable TV markets in the world.
According to MRG, satellite STBs continue to show strength as new providers continue to launch in regions such as Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East/Africa. Worldwide unit shipments reached nearly 109 million in 2012, up from about 100 million in 2011.
In 2013, MRG is projecting that satellite set-top box unit shipments will continue to rise slightly and long-term demand for satellite set-top boxes is expected to remain strong. While demand for IP STBs continued solidly in 2012, MRG expects unit shipments to flatten out and even marginally decrease as the IPTV market matures in 2013 and 2014.
Additionally, as part of being focused on the largest opportunities for STBs, MRG has also taken a deep dive into the pay-TV market in India to find a swirling maze of economic, political, legal and social factors that are critical to business models and financial success. In spite of many roadblocks, this market is set to see substantial growth in several segments, notably STBs and OTT services. The pay-TV market in India is expected to reach 167 million subscribers in 2017, up from 140 million in 2012, showing a 3.6% CAGR during this period.
DTH, alone, is expected to cross 100 million subscribers by 2017. Following digitization, by 2016 DTH will surpass cable TV penetration, which comprised 67% of the pay-TV market in 2012. The opportunity for STB imports into this country will exceed 100 million in 2017 while more than 60 million will be produced locally.
