IHS: pay TV revenues in CEE surpass €5 billion

Pay TV revenues in central and eastern Europe reached a total of €5.02 billion (US$5.56 billion) in 2015 with Poland the leading market in this region, according to new research.

IHS’s ‘Central and Eastern Europe Pay TV Market Monitor’ report found that pay TV revenue in Poland increased from €1.62 billion in 2014 to €1.69 billion in 2015.

In Russia, pay TV revenue increased by 20% in 2015 if measured in roubles. However, in euros, the market dipped 9.25% with subscription revenues bringing in €1.11 billion, after the ruble depreciated against the euro and the dollar last year.

Overall, IHS said that the number of pay TV homes in Central and Eastern Europe increased by 31% between 2010 and 2015 to reach 75.9 million last year.

Cable accounted for 48% of pay TV subscribers in 2015 compared to 38% for satellite and 13% for IPTV.

Cable is predicted to keep the largest share until 2020, even though IHS expects the total number of cable pay TV subscribers to decline by 3%.