Digital TV Research estimates that pay-TV subscribers increased by 26 million in 2018 across 138 countries. This took the number of pay-TV subscribers beyond 1 billion.
Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research, commented: “IPTV added 42 million subscribers in 2018 alone to take its total to 257 million. IPTV overtook pay satellite TV in 2018.”
Satellite TV and pay DTT grew by 2 million and 1 million subscribers respectively in 2018. Digital cable TV added 7 million subs, but analogue cable TV shed 16 million subs – meaning a net loss for cable.
Cable TV accounted for half of all pay-TV subscribers in 2018; down from three-quarters in 2010. IPTV increased its share of pay-TV subscribers to a quarter in 2018. Satellite TV generated 22% of pay-TV subscribers in 2018.
Global pay-TV revenues peaked in 2016 at $205 billion. Revenues fell to $199 billion in 2018.