Revenues for pay-TV platforms in the Middle East and North Africa will fall by $1.6 billion between peak year 2016 and 2029, according to a new forecast.
Digital TV Research puts the fall down to a combination of the growth in OTT and widespread piracy.
Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “Legitimate pay-TV penetration has always been low in most MENA countries, but the decline is accelerating as pay-TV subscribers convert to OTT platforms.”
TV revenues for 20 MENA countries in Digital TV Research’s Middle East and North Africa Pay TV Forecasts will drop by 43% between 2016 ($3.8 billion) and 2029 ($2.2 billion). This comes despite the number of pay-TV subscribers growing by 3 million over the same period to 18 million – so ARPUs will fall.
Thirteen of the 20 countries will lose revenues between 2023 and 2029. Turkey and Israel together will supply nearly half of the 2029 total.
Pay-TV revenues for the 13 Arabic-speaking countries will be $802 million by 2029; half of the $1,570 million recorded in 2016. Turkish revenues will reach $707 million in 2029; $203 million lower than 2016. Pay-TV revenues in Israel will drop from $1.14 billion to $376 million over the same period.
