Decrease of pay-TV revenues in the MENA region by $1.6 billion

Decrease of pay-TV revenues in the MENA region by $1.6 billion

The pay-TV revenues in the Middle East and North Africa region are projected to decrease by $1.6 billion by 2029, as indicated in a report by market analysis firm Digital TV Research.

The study attributes the 43 percent decline, amounting to $2.2 billion, to the growing popularity of over-the-top (OTT) media services and piracy issues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, noted that legitimate pay-TV penetration has historically been low in most MENA countries, and the decline is accelerating as pay-TV subscribers transition to OTT platforms.

Between 2016 and 2020, pay-TV revenues for the 20 MENA countries experienced a 14 per cent decrease, falling to $2.74 billion.

The forecast suggests a continued slow decline, reaching $2.52 billion in 2026, reflecting a 23 percent fall compared to 2016.

By 2026, four countries—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Turkey—are expected to contribute 78 percent of the region’s pay-TV revenues.

Murray highlighted that there will be few winners, with eight of the 20 countries experiencing revenue losses between 2020 and 2026.

Despite an anticipated increase in pay-TV subscribers, projected to rise by 3 million between 2023 and 2029, reaching a total of 18 million, the report suggests that 13