MPA sees growth in ARPUs across DTH and cable platforms 

DTH platforms in India witness a growth of 3.5 million this year, compared with 6.5 million in 2011

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | October 26, 2012

Fifty of Asia's leading pay-TV distribution platforms will add 11.9 million net new subscribers in aggregate this year for a total base of ~111 million, a growth of 12% year-on-year, according to a survey published today by Media Partners Asia (MPA).

India and, to a lesser extent, Indonesia are key growth markets. Without these two markets, new subscribers added among the surveyed operators will come in at only 3.7 millionin 2012 for a base of 66 million, equivalent to growth of only 6% year-on-year. India contributes five percentage points to regional growth; Indonesia, one.

“India's first phase of digitalization is underway on Nov. 1; we are positive on the process and see a significant boost to digital subscriber growth and ARPUs across DTH and cable platforms,” said MPA executive director Vivek Couto. “Ex-India, Asian pay-TV subscriber growth has been driven by a strong year for market leader MNC Sky Vision in Indonesia; robust gains for Astro in Malaysia; decent gains in the Philippines and Vietnam; and acceleration by DTH and IPTV operators in Korea.”

In India, cable MSOs have been deploying about 25,000 set top boxes per day. Meanwhile, Indian DTH platforms will have an aggregate of 32.5 million “active” subs (paying customers over the trailing 30 days) by end-2012, a growth of 3.5 million this year, fairly modest when compared with 6.5 million in 2011, but this number will see a boost post digitalization.

Significantly, 85% of pay-TV subscribers will have at least one digital set top box in the home amongst the 50 video platforms in the MPA survey, equating to 94 million customers. About 15% (approx. 14 million customers) of this base will be anchored to HD services, driven largely by DTH platforms in Australasia, India, Japan, Malaysia and Korea and cable operators in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Operators in mature markets with high levels of broadband connectivity such as Australia, Japan and Korea are also betting big on stronger content windows, more premium content, new innovative apps and technologies (i.e. android-based smart set top boxes) and more interactive gateways to retain and drive subscribers across multiple platforms, including mobile and broadband. In Singapore and Hong Kong, more intelligent packaging will take shape to boost the pay-TV proposition.

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

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