Global pay TV revenues are on the up, however dominant cable TV service providers are losing share to rival satellite and IPTV operators.
Analyst house ABI Research predicts global revenues will grow $13 billion (€10 billion) year-on-year to $236 billion in 2012, and will hit $281 billion in 2017. Although ABI tips cable TV providers to remain top dog over the next five years, it notes the sector is losing market share to satellite and IPTV alternatives.
The erosion is already being felt. Jake Saunders, vice president and practice director of core forecasting at ABI, predicts cable TV’s share of global revenues will decline marginally from 48% in 2011 to 47% in 2012, despite a slight rise in average revenue per user (ARPU).