MPA Report: Asia Pacific Pay-TV Industry To Grow 5% In 2018, Exceeding US$56 Billion In Revenue

Singapore, Dec. 8, 2018 — Pay-TV revenue in Asia Pacific, comprised of subscription fees and local and regional advertising sales, will top US$56 billion in 2018 after 5% annual growth, according to Asia Pacific Pay-TV Distribution, a new report published today by leading industry analysts Media Partners Asia (MPA). The Asia Pacific pay-TV industry will continue to expand at a 3% CAGR between 2018-23 to exceed US$66 billion in revenue by 2023, according to MPA forecasts. MPA’s Asia Pacific Pay-TV Distribution report covers 17 markets across the region.

Over the next five years, the biggest gains will come from the utility-oriented China market, where pay-TV revenues are projected to grow at a 3% CAGR to reach US$25 billion by 2023, and the more accessible and commercial India market, where pay-TV revenues are set for an 8% CAGR to reach US$16 billion by 2023. That makes India the highest growth and most scalable pay-TV market in Asia Pacific. At the same time, Korea, another regional pay-TV powerhouse, will grow at a 3% CAGR to reach US$7.4 billion in revenue by 2023, according to MPA forecasts, while pay-TV revenues in Japan will climb at a 1% CAGR to touch US$7.1 billion over the same time-frame.

Elsewhere, pay-TV momentum will moderate in Indonesia and the Philippines, two of Southeast Asia’s biggest growth economies, according to MPA, while Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand will register revenue declines ranging between a -1% to a -6% CAGR over 2018-23.

Commenting on the findings from the Asia Pacific Pay-TV Distribution report, MPA executive director Vivek Couto said:
“Pay-TV stakeholders are adjusting to new realities as the industry shifts to IP-based distribution. The growth of high-speed broadband and online video is driving fundamental changes in content consumption and investment across key markets. This, together with piracy, will continue to adversely impact pay-TV industry growth. There will be more fixed broadband subs than pay-TV subs across much of Asia Pacific by 2021, while the gap between the mobile broadband subs base and pay-TV & fixed broadband subs will further widen as mobile networks emerge as a major means for mass content distribution, accelerating the shift in content consumption from households to individuals.

Cuoto added, "M&A activity for the Asia Pacific broadcasting and pay-TV sectors for 2017 and the first half of 2018 reached US$10.5 billion in aggregate, with the biggest deals taking place in Australia, India and Korea. More M&A and consolidation is likely in these markets with Southeast Asia likely to join the action over 2019-20.”

MPA analysis indicates that the pay-TV subscriber base in Asia Pacific will grow by 3% in 2018 to reach 645 million subs, representing 57% of TV homes with at least one pay-TV service. The Asia Pacific pay-TV subs base will grow at a 2% CAGR between 2018-23 to reach ~696 million by 2023, according to MPA projections. Pay-TV penetration by 2023 will fall to 55% of TV homes when adjusted for multiple subscriptions, largely due to an acceleration in cable cord cutting in China.

Ex-China, net customer additions across Asia Pacific will significantly slow from 10.4 million in 2017 to 6.5 million in 2018. India will account for 47% of the growth in 2018, followed by Indonesia (12%), the Philippines (12%), Korea (10%), Pakistan (7%) and Sri Lanka (3%). The pay-TV base ex-China will grow from 267 million subs in 2018 to 288 million subs by 2023, representing a 2% CAGR, with adjusted pay-TV penetration remaining flat at 57% of TV homes.

Asia Pacific Pay-TV Distribution

Asia Pacific Pay-TV Distribution is an annual report published by Media Partners Asia,  covering commercial distribution of pay-TV and fixed broadband in 17 markets, including analysis of 80 pay-TV and broadband operators with KPIs and P&L. The report provides historical data and five-year forecasts for subs, ARPU and revenue across all pay-TV platforms, including on-demand, HD and DVR services, as well as for subscription and ad revenue for pay channels. The report also contains a breakdown of channel packaging and pricing from pay-TV and broadband operators. The 17 markets covered are: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

As a leading independent consulting and research provider, Media Partners Asia offers a range of customized services to help drive business development, strategy & planning, M&A, new products & services and research. Based in Hong Kong, Singapore and India, our teams have local depth and expertise across Asia Pacific and major international territories. We offer in-depth research reports across key industry sectors, customized consulting services, industry events to spread knowledge and unlock partnerships, and publications that provide insights into driving business.