Digital Pay-TV Subscriptions Up Globally in 2017, Despite Rise in OTT Services, Says IHS

Despite growth in over-the-top subscriptions services, global digital pay-TV subscriptions -- including cable, satellite and IPTV -- exceeded 1 billion for the first time in 2017, IHS Markit reported. Subscription streaming video services including Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video added more than three times the number of subscriptions they did in 2016, said the researcher Tuesday. “Traditional pay TV operators have shown resilience in the face of increased competition, through continued investment in set-top functionality, exclusive content and on-demand services,” said analyst Fateha Begum. Growth in digital pay-TV came largely from Asia-Pacific, driven by IPTV uptake in China. Western Europe added eight OTT subscriptions for every pay-TV subscription. Digital pay-TV subs in North America continued to shrink, losing 3 million homes in 2017, while OTT subscriptions advanced by nearly 30 million, said Begum. “Pay TV services in North America continue to be affected by cord cutting, primarily due to higher average prices for pay TV subscriptions, compared to other global regions.”