The number of new pay-TV subscribers in Russia in the third quarter was only half that in the second.
According to the latest report by Telecom Daily, it stood at 95,000, compared to 190,000 In Q2. The figure was even lower than in Q1, when 140,000 new pay-TV customers were connected.
The report notes that over 75% of Russian homes now receive pay-TV services, while ARPU amounts to R172 (€2.3), which is little changed on previous quarters. Russia’s five leading pay-TV providers accounted for 91.5% of new customers in Q3, with Rostelecom (50,000) claiming more than half.
Indeed, Rostelecom has led in organic subscriber growth for several years.
On the other hand, the market leader Tricolor lost 46,000, mainly due to the recalculation of the active base.
The report quotes Kirill Makhnovsky, the general director of Orion, as saying that the service segment for individuals has reached saturation point and the cost of connecting new subscribers is increasing.
Although there growth in linear OTT, a large number of video services are now offering a variety of content. Furthermore, satellite operators are being transformed into multi-platform companies.
The report also provides actual subscribers figures for the top five pay-TV companies. Tricolor TV had 12,200,000 in Q3, compared to 12,246,000 three months earlier. It was followed by Rostelecom with 10,060,000 (10.,010,000), ER Telecom 3,719,000 (3,699,000), MTS 3,335,000 (3,320,000) and Orion 3,140,000 (3,138,000).
