Global Pay-TV revenue to decline by $23 Billion by 2029

With the rise in connected TV streaming services, including free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels, legacy global pay-TV revenue continues to fall.

Global pay-TV revenue — led by the United States — will fall to $118 billion in 2029, down from $141 billion in 2023 — despite the number of pay-TV subscribers actually increasing slightly, according to new data from Digital TV Research. Global pay-TV revenue for 138 countries peaked in 2016 at $199 billion.

The United States generated $58.2 billion in pay-TV revenue in 2023, which will decline to $43.6 billion over the next five years.

Satellite TV revenue will drop by $11 billion to $38 billion, with cable TV revenue dropping by $11 billion to $50 billion. Analog cable will lose a further $1 billion. Online TV, or IPTV, will be flat at $28 billion.

“The U.S. will provide the most dramatic fall – by $15 billion from the global decline of $23 billion,” analyst Simon Murray said in a statement. “U.S. pay-TV revenue will drop to $44 billion in 2029 — down by 25%, with subscriber numbers down by 16%. The U.S. will still account for 36% of global revenue by 2029, down from 41% in 2023.” Media Play News