IPTV is the fastest growing segment in Moscow’s pay-TV market, with over 700,000 homes now receiving services.
Quoting the results of a study by DIT, TelecomDaily reports that the figure is a third higher than a year earlier and is being driven by demand for interactive features such as VOD and time-shifting. Furthermore, it could soon overtake DTH, which is used by 765,000 homes in the Russian capital.
Following on initial outlay of at least R6,000 (€56.3) for reception equipment, DTH service cost an average of R226 a month. IPTV, on the other hand, costs on average R215 a month, while cable TV, received by some 570,000 households in Moscow, up to R370 a month.
DTH services offer the most channels (up to 178), compared to 92 from IPTV, though the latter is compensated by additional services.
Although the DIT says Moscow’s pay-TV market grew by 8% last year to R12.6 billion, this is by no means a widely accepted figure. For instance, TMT Consulting says it grew by 16.2% to R11.7 billion.
TMT Consulting also says that Rostelecom is the leading provider of pay-TV services in Moscow, with a market share of 57%m followed by Akado (17%), Tricolor TV (10%) and MTS (6%).