Satellite and cable additions in Latin America, China and India, added to
increased Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) subscribers in China, are forming
the engine of the global pay-TV market, according to a study from international
market research and consulting firm, Infonetics Research.
Cable subscribers are favouring IPTV and satellite to take advantage of
promotional offers, Infonetics Research’s Pay TV Subscriber Database found.
Comcast Corporation, the world’s leading provider of cable TV services was
used as the prime example after the company lost 335,000 subscribers over four
quarters, with 21.6 million subscribers as of Q313.
However, satellite providers are enjoying more success as is shown by DirectTV
Latin America’s 15% year-over-year increase in satellite subscribers, which now
see the company ranking third in the list of direct-to-home signal providers.
The study found that DirectTV US, DISH Network, DirecTV Latin America, Tata Sky
and BskyB are the global top five companies by subscribers; with AT&T, Chine
Telecom, Iliad Group, Orange and Verizon ranking as equivalent IPTV leaders.
Jeff Heynen, principal analyst for broadband access and pay-TV at Infonetics
Research, commented on the trends: “Latin America’s economy, in particular, is
performing well, with companies investing in Brazil ahead of the FIFA World Cup
and consumers signing up for pay-TV services to the tune of 9% growth in the
third quarter of 2013 from the year-ago period.’
