The 100 leading pay-TV services as listed in the informitv Multiscreen Index added 3.46 million subscribers between them in the first quarter.
The modest 0.79% gain compares to 6.90 million or 1.68% during the first three months of 2016.
Operators in Europe, the Middle East and Africa grew their combined subscriber base by 0.21 million, while the Americas added 0.85 million and the Asia Pacific region put on 2.39 million.
46 of the 100 services in the index reported net subscriber gains. The 10 with the largest gains added 3.58 million between them.
“Figures for the first quarter show the lowest rate of worldwide subscriber growth we have seen,” said Dr William Cooper, the editor of the Multiscreen Index. “There is still growth in the Asia Pacific region but at a lower rate than previously.”
In Europe, Canal+ lost 109,000 subscribers in France, while Sky gained 73,000 in Germany and 40,000 customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
But, some of the greatest gains were as a result of reporting changes made by AT&T for PanAmericana and Sky Brasil.
Quarterly Subscriber Change (millions)
