Eastern Europe TV revenues will near US$10 billion by 2016

Eastern European pay TV revenues will increase from US$7.5 billion (€5.6 billion) in 2010 to US$9.8 billion in 2016, according to new research from Informa Telecoms & Media. The number of digital TV homes in the region will double in the same five-year period with digital homes more than doubling, taking the total to 148 million by 2016.
However, while there will be a greater number of pay TV subscribers, ARPUs will remain flat between now and 2016, according to Informa.

“During the same period ARPU will fluctuate a little, but by 2016 will be essentially unchanged from the 2010 figure of US$10.24,” research manager Adam Thomas said: “Some increases will come as the number of services on offer – and the subsequent tiering of channels and introduction of PPV/VOD packages – rises. But TV ARPU will also be adversely affected, as the impact of dual- and triple-play bundles pushes down prices.”

Russia and Poland are eastern Europe’s revenue powerhouses, together accounting for 41% of the region’s US$7.5 billion pay TV revenues in 2010, Informa notes. Their position is set to become stronger during the forecast period – and will account for a combined 44% of the US$9.8 billion pay TV revenues forecast for 2016.