The number of worldwide pay-TV subscribers will see a slight rise in the next couple of years, but will still be down compared to its peak in 2018.
According to Digital TV Research, pay-TV subscribers across 138 countries will reach 1.03 billion by
2027; slightly up on 2021 as pay-TV continues to grow in developing countries. This total represents 57 per cent of TV households – down from the peak of 61 per cent in 2018.
Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “Given the increasing demand for fast broadband connections, IPTV will be the pay-TV winner. IPTV will add 79 million subscribers between 2021 and 2027 to take its total to 440 million. IPTV will become the pay TV leader in 2022.”
Pay satellite TV will lose 12 million subscribers between 2021 and 2027 as homes convert to platforms that offer high-speed broadband, said the analysts.
There will be 367 million cable TV subs by 2027, 56 million lower than the 422 million recorded in 2021. The 2021 total includes 22 million analogue cable TV subscribers. This total will fall to zero by 2027.
