Synopsis

In a competitive move to the steady the flow of viewers deserting subscription TV, FOXTEL and AUSTAR have served up more than 30 new channels in the last couple of years in a bid to attract and retain viewers to their subscriber base. More football, drama, delayed viewing and HD channels have all been added to the line up of around 200 channels. 

With the advent of digital television and the launch of a number of new digital Free-to-Air channels, Australian pay TV operators have been feeling the squeeze as viewers were quick to take advantage and watch the new channels. Overall, subscribers to pay TV have not been growing in recent years and the situation is not likely to reverse unless something drastic happens in the market. 

However with the right pricing model aimed at the market, the subscribers may come as can be seen by the other digital media entrants that are officering services through such devices as smart TVs and through IPTV services such as FetchTV. By 2012 pay TV penetration had still not reached more than about 34% of the Australian population, according to industry estimates.

In this report we provide a range of statistics such as subscribers, penetration rates and viewing patterns. These are presented across a range of tabular and easy-to-read chart formats with analysis and commentary provided where appropriate. Also provided are forecast subscription takeup scenarios using household penetration as a measurement through to 2015. 

Companies mentioned

Companies mentioned in this report include – AUSTAR, FOXTEL, Optus, TransACT, SelecTV.

Hot topics and technologies mentioned

Hot topics and technologies mentioned in this report include – smart TV, pay TV, digital TV, subscription television, FTA TV, subscribers, penetration.