Subscribers Rise but Revenues Fall in Europe

Revenues will fall for more than 40 European TV operators between 2013 and 2020, says Digital TV Research. Having risen from $33.7 billion in 2010 to $35.8 billion in 2013, the firm expects revenues to reach $36.2 billion by the end of the forecast period. Analogue to (often cheaper) digital conversions and greater competition (such as from online services) will be the main causes. On the other hand, subscriber numbers are expected to more than double for six operators: Telecom Italia, Spain’s Telefonica, Bulgaria’s Vivacom, the UK’s TalkTalk, Greece’s OTE and Russia’s Vimpelcom. Tricolor TV, in Russia, will also add 3.8 million new subscribers over the forecast period.