The global pay-TV market including cable and satellite TV, telecom internet protocol television (IPTV) stood at $221 billion in 2013, says Infonetics Research.
Further, pay-TV subscribers grew by five per cent in the second half of 2013 to 756 million subscribers, with the telecom IPTV segment witnessing strangest growth. The research firm points out DirecTV, the global market leader for pay-TV service revenue, commands highest average revenue per user (ARPU), which is helping the company, offset a slowdown in net new subscribers. Interestingly, AT&T is planning to acquire DirecTV in a deal valued at $48.5 billion to strengthen its video business and reduce pressure from wireless business.
Going forward, Infonetics Research forecasts that the overall video services ARPU and revenue growth will remain constrained due to increasing competition from over-the-top players and the service providers themselves using broadband video as a lower-priced offering.
The research firm has lowered its 2017 pay-TV revenue forecast by 35 per cent globally, from $401 billion to $260 billion.
