The predicted slowdown in the take-up of pay-TV service in Russia has so far failed to materialise.
Indeed, TelecomDaily points to results recently reported by NetbyNet that showed its digital TV subscriber total in the first five months of this year was almost 40% up on the same period in 2013.
J’son & Partners Consulting meanwhile says that the value of the pay-TV market in Russia in 2013 amounted to R57.1 billion (€1.2 billion), of which R31.2 billion was claimed by cable, R18.3 billion by DTH and R7.6 billion by IPTV.
Although there were a total of 35 million homes receiving pay-TV services, most opting for those provided by Tricolor TV or Rostelecom, the penetration rate of 64% meant that there was still significant potential for further growth.
IKS Consulting, on the other hand, says that the IPTV sector grew by 29% last year and its share of pay-TV revenues will continue to increase.
Other important developments include the growing interest by corporate clients in IPTV services; hybrid TV solutions; growing popularity of HD services; and new services such as Multiroom, introduced recently by Tricolor TV.
