New figures from Digital TV Research suggest the number of pay-TV subscribers worldwide has hit one billion for the first time.
According to the analysts, the number of pay-TV subscribers increased by 26 million in 2018 across 138 countries, taking the overall figure to one 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 two million and one 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 per cent of pay-TV subscribers in 2018.
