Research Indicates 9 Million Decrease in Western European Pay-TV Subscribers by 2029
From 2023 to 2029, the pay-TV market in Western Europe is projected to experience a downward trend, with an estimated decline of almost 9 million subscribers, resulting in 93 million subscribers by the end of the period. This 8% decrease is comparatively mild when set against the US market’smarket’s downturn. Despite this shrinkage, the penetration rate of pay TV in Western Europe is expected to remain relatively robust at 53% by 2029, showing only a moderate dip from the 58% recorded in 2023.
The forecast for the region indicates that most countries, precisely 14 out of 18, will contribute to the overall decline in subscription numbers. Germany is predicted to witness a decrease of approximately 2.7 million subscribers, while the UK’s numbers may fall by 2 million. Italy and France are also expected to show considerable drops of 1.5 million and 1.1 million subscribers, respectively.
During the same period, IPTV is expected to gain 1 million subscribers. In contrast, pay satellite TV is poised to face the steepest decline, with forecasts suggesting a loss of 6.4 million subscribers. Pay DTT and cable services are not spared either, with anticipated losses of 0.8 million and 2.4 million subscribers, respectively.
Amidst these shifts, Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research, has shed light on the nuances within the sector. Murray stated, “Pay satellite TV will be the biggest loser because most DTH platforms do not offer broadband access. However, this is not true of Sky, which wants to convert its satellite TV subscribers to its streaming platforms. Despite these efforts, Sky is expected to see a decline in its satellite TV subscriber base, losing 1.8 million subscribers in both Germany and the UK, as well as an additional 1.3 million in Italy, totalling nearly 5 million subscriber losses between 2023 and 2029.”
Ragul Thangavel
With over nine years of diverse professional experience, Ragul has made significant contributions across various domains, including Media Operations, OTT Technologies, Video Production, Ecommerce, and Social Media.
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