Czech viewers pay an average of CZK354 (€13.9) a month to receive pay-TV services.
Furthermore, according to Atmedia, quoting research undertaken by Nielsen Admosphere, pay-TV penetration continues to grow and now stands at 54%. Atmedia’s MD Michaela Vasilova adds that “the amount (charged) for pay-TV is most often in the range of CZK300-399 per month. In this range, 23% of viewers who receive TV stations through one of the pay-TV operators pay for watching TV”.
She also said that 35% of pay-TV viewers pay from CZK 80 -300 per month, and 42% from CZK400 -700 CZK per month.
Atmedia notes that main reason why more than half of Czech viewers pay to watch TV is the possibility of seeing channels that are not available as part of digital terrestrial broadcasting. This reason is specifically stated by 43% of respondents (customers of one of the pay-TV operators). They also, in 37% of cases, appreciate the ability to watch TV shows. Other benefits include HD broadcasting (32%) and the ability to watch TV on multiple devices simultaneously (26%).
Vasilova continued: “Many of today’s TV viewers want to be able to choose between more TV stations, often choosing different paid thematic channels focused on a specific genre. At the same time, they want to watch their favourite shows in the highest possible quality and regardless of the time of the original broadcast. We have been observing these changes in the behavior of television viewers for a long time, and Covid-19 has accelerated them even further.
“The main reason why almost half of Czechs do not want to pay for receiving TV broadcasts is a sufficient offer of TV stations broadcasting in digital terrestrial broadcasting”.
