Pay TV subscriptions up 10% in Germany

Frank Giersberg

Pay TV is booming in Germany with subscriptions up by almost 10% in 2014, according to new research by German broadcast body VPRT.

The Association of Commercial Broadcasters and Audiovisual Services in Germany (VPRT) said that pay TV subscriber numbers reached 7 million in the country and 7.7 million across the entire German-speaking area.

The ‘Pay TV in Germany 2015’ report predicted further growth in the market this year, with pay TV penetration tipped to reach over 20% of all households for the first time.

Revenue from pay TV and pay video-on-demand was also up, climbing roughly 8% in Germany from €2.05 billion in 2013 to €2.22 billion in 2014, and reaching €2.4 billion across the German-speaking territories.

VPRT predicted a further 7% revenue increase this year to just under €2.4 billion in Germany and approximately €2.6 billion in the German-speaking countries.

“The pay TV boom is continuing. Pay TV remains the fastest-growing TV segment, both in Germany and across the entire German-speaking area,” said Frank Giersberg, member of the board of directors, responsible for market and business development at VPRT.

“Over the next few years, we anticipate sustained momentum in the pay TV and pay VOD segment. At the same time, we also see further growth in the sector of TV and video advertising, a trend from which both free-TV and pay TV providers will benefit.”