Spanish pay TV numbers edge up as IPTV consolidates position as leading technology

The number of pay TV subscribers in Spain grew 2.1% in the year to June, taking the total number to 6.8 million, although this represented a slight decline on the first quarter of this year, according to data compiled by Spanish regulator the CNMC. 

IPTV remains the dominant mode of distribution with 4.56 million subscribers, against 1.3 million cable TV customers , 610,000 satellite users and 280,000 primary online TV subscribers. 

Regarding the overall telecom and audiovisual services market, the second quarter saw a modest decline in retail sales of 2.2% year-on-year. Retail services accounted for €6.215 billion for the second quarter. 

The three main telecom operators, Telefónica/Movistar, Orange and Vodafone, accounted for 76.3% of all retail sales, a slight decline year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter. Movistar accounted for 42.7% compared with Orange’s 17.3% and Vodafone’s 16.2%. 

Disruptor Másmóvil increased its sales by 16.3% year-on-year and now accounts for 6.8% of the market, while Movistar grew by 1.2%. However Vodafone and Orange saw their revenues decline. 

Broadcasters Atresmedia and Mediaset España accounted fo 3.3% and 3.2% of the market respectively, with regional cable operator Euskaltel accounting for 2.7%. 

Of the 15.1 million fixed broadband connections in Spain, 11.8 million now provide speeds of more than 30Mbps, up 1.6 million year-on-year.