CASBAA: Pay-TV subscription rates soar in Asia

The industry body reported that the region had a total of 326 million pay-TV households, an increase of 26 million on last year. Of that number, 115 million, or 35 per cent, subscribed to digital packages.

China and India were shown to account for the vast majority (90 per cent) of Asian pay TV subscribers. China has 69 million digital video connections, India 19 million.

Casbaa’s chief executive, Simon Twiston Davies, described the findings as “very encouraging”, claiming that “the digital promise of the last five years is now being delivered”.

However, the industry continues to be dogged by the scourge of piracy. Standard Chartered estimated that illegitimate consumption across 15 regional markets was accounting for around US$1.94 billion in losses for content providers.

“Pay TV is becoming more attractive, but that means more people want to steal,” stated Twiston Davies.