Pay-TV subscribers to hit 1 billion by 2022

According to a latest study by Digital TV Research, global OTT and pay TV revenues are projected to reach USD 283 billion this year – that’s 18% higher than the 239 billion recorded a year ago. The study that covers 138 countries interprets that OTT will drive revenue, while pay TV will pull it down slightly. Yet the number of pay TV subscribers is expected to reach 1 billion by 2022, majorly in the Asia Pacific regions, which will see a lift in subscribers between 2016 and 2022 of 92 million subscribers.

China is expected to add 40 million subscribers, taking its total to 353 million. India will bring in an extra 30 million subscribers, aggregating 179 million. China and India together will account for half the global pay-TV subscribers by 2022.

OTT’s contribution to total revenue will increase to 29% in 2022 from 15% in 2016. OTT revenues will represent 42% of the pay-TV total by 2022, up from only 18% in 2016. SVOD will contribute to 50% of the pay-TV total by 2022, up from 27% in 2016. Meanwhile, SVOD subscriptions increased tenfold between 2010 and 2016 and will double by 2022 to 546 million.