The number of pay TV subscribers across the MENA region is set to rise over the next five years, although the progress continues to be severely hampered by widespread piracy and competition from SVOD platforms, according to Digital TV Research’s “Middle East and North Africa Pay TV Forecasts” report.
The study reveals that the number of pay TV subscribers in 20 MENA countries will increase from 17.32 million in 2022 to 19.20 million in 2028. Legitimate pay TV penetration will remain at only 19%. IPTV subscribers overtook pay satellite TV in 2022.
Furthermore, about 62% of the region’s TV households will receive free-to-air satellite TV signals over the next five years. Digital TV Research notes that free-to-air satellite penetration is highest in the Arabic-speaking countries. Another fifth of the region’s TV households will take FTA DTT.
Meanwhile, pay TV revenues will fall by 36% between peak year 2016 (US$3.84 billion) and 2028 (US$2.47 billion). According to the research, this comes despite the number of pay TV subscribers growing – which means that ARPUs are falling.
“Legitimate pay TV penetration will remain low in the MENA region. First was the battle against widespread piracy, but now traditional pay TV subscribers are converting to SVOD platforms,” commented Simon Murray, Principal Analyst at Digital TV Research.