América Móvil declining pay TV revenues soften top line growth

Mexico-based Latin American and European telecom giant América Móvil, owner of Telmex, Claro and Telekom Austria, saw its top line revenue growth softened by a fall in pay TV and fixed voice revenues in Q1, even as TV numbers rose in most markets.

Total operating revenues for the first three months of 2023 increased by 1.7%, to MXN208.9 billion (US$12.3 billion), over the first three months of 2022. At constant exchange rates, the increase was 13.8%, boosted by an increase in prepaid, postpaid, corporate networks, broadband and equipment revenues, partially offset by a decrease in pay TV service s and fixed voice revenues.

Service revenues for the first three months of 2023 increased by 1.6%, or MXN2.8 billion, up by 13.6% at constant currency.

In its home market of Mexico, where it operates Telmex, the company saw the number of broadband RGUs increase by 0.6 %, but did not break out TV numbers. The overall picture was a decrease in total fixed RGUs of 2.0% over the first three months of 2022, or 417,000, to approximately 20.9 million.

In Brazil, the number of broadband RGUs increased by 0.4%, and the number of Pay TV RGUs decreased by 9.0%, resulting in a decrease in total fixed RGUs in Brazil of 4.4 %, or 1.1 million.

In Spanish-speaking Latin America the picture was markedly different, with TV outperforming broadband.

In Colombia the number of broadband RGUs increased by 0.7% and the number of Pay TV RGUs increased by 1.8%, resulting in an increase in total fixed RGUs in Colombia of 2.9%, or 260,000, to approximately 9.2 million as of March 31, helping boost revenues in that market.

For the ‘southern cone’ countries of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the number of broadband RGUs increased by 41.2%, and the number of Pay TV RGUs increased by 42.3%, resulting in an increase in total fixed RGUs in the region of 39.9%, or 871,000, to approximately 3.1 million.

In the Andean region comprising Ecuador and Peru, the number of broadband RGUs increased by 4.0% and the number of Pay TV RGUs increased by 11.5%, resulting in an increase in total fixed RGUs in the region segment of 4.7%, or 117,000, to approximately 2.6 million. In Ecuador, revenues from Pay TV services increased and were partially offset by a decrease from Pay TV services in Peru.

In central America, meaning Guatemala. El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, broadband RGUs increased by 8.4%, and Pay TV RGUs increased by 12.3%, resulting in an increase in total fixed RGUs in the Central America segment of 5.8%, or 256,000, to approximately 4.7 million.

In the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, broadband RGUs increased by 5.8% and pay TV RGUs increased by 3.5%, resulting in an increase in total fixed RGUs in the Caribbean segment of 3.6%, or 95,000, to approximately 2.7 million.

In Europe, where América Móvil is the majority owner of Telekom Austria, broadband RGUs increased by 3.5% and the number of Pay TV RGUs increased by 6.7%, resulting in an increase in total fixed RGUs of 2.4%, or 147,000, to 6.2 million.