APAC pay TV channels threatened by online video streaming, consolidation on the cards: MPA report

The pay-television market in the Asia Pacific region is looking at a phase of consolidation as subscriber growth and spend deteriorate across key territories, according to a report by independent research and consulting group, Media Partners Asia (MPA).

According to the latest edition of MPA’s Pay-TV Networks Channel Database, aggregate revenues across 13 major pay-TV networks in Asia Pacific grew by just 1% in 2018 to reach $4.9 billion (following 5% growth in 2017), while combined Ebitda fell by 5% in 2018 to $0.9 billion, approximately the same rate of decline as 2018.

“Consumer demand for traditional pay-TV has been impacted forever by high-speed broadband, which is driving rapid increases in online video consumption as well as piracy,” said Vivek Couto, executive director, MPA.