Digital multichannel subscribers in Moldova up 5.4% in 1H 2013

Wednesday, September 4th, 2013
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Number of Subscribers to Multi-Channel TV Services decreased by 3.6 thousand in the First Six Months of 2013

Statistical data on the evolution of multi-channel TV service market (cable, satellite, IPTV and MMDS), published today by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), show that in the first half of 2013 there occurred a slight decrease in the number of subscribers to these services against a slight increase of revenues from sales of these services. The total number of subscribers reduced, compared to the end of 2012, by 1.3% (3.66 thousand) and constituted 281.2 thousand, whereas the revenues on this market segment increased over the corresponding time frame of 2012 by 2.5% and totaled 82.7 mil. lei.

According to these data, in the reporting time frame, due to the migration of subscribers to alternative platforms of TV contents reception (IPTV), the number of subscribers to the services provided via IP technology increased by 9% (4.2 thousand) – totaled 51 thousand. Also, the number of subscribers to cable TV decreased by 3.3% (7.6 thousand) and reached 219.8 thousand, the number of subscribers to satellite services (DTH) – by 4% (0.3 thousand) and constituted 7.4 thousand. As a result, the penetration rate of multi-channel TV services per 100 inhabitants dropped by 0.1 percentage points (p.p.) and summed up 7.9%.

In the same time frame, the number of subscribers to digital multi-channel TV services increased over the one registered at the end of 2012 by 5.4% (5.6 thousand) and reached 108.9 thousand. This evolution led to the change in the shares of subscribers to digital TV against analogue TV in the structure of subscribers to multichannel TV services. The share of the first category increased by 2.3 p.p. and reached 38.5%, while the share of the second category of subscribers reduced the same amount and constituted 61.5%.

In the reporting time frame, the market of multi-channel TV services was operated by 94 providers. The values of market shares held by the biggest ones did not undergo essential changes. The most important market shares, in terms of turnover, were held by LLC “Sun Communications” – 30.5%, JSC “Moldtelecom” – 24%, LLC “Focus sat” – 5.9%, LLC “AMT” – 4.5%. The other providers shared a 35% market share.

Number of multichannel TV subscribers

                              2012              2013
          ----------------------------------  ----------------
               1Q       2Q       3Q       4Q       1Q       2Q
          -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Total     264,005  268,203  274,101  284,827  279,387  281,165

Analogue                                                 61.5%
Digital                                                  38.5%

Subscribers by technology

              All  Digital
          -------  -------
Cable TV    78.2%    43.7%
IPTV        18.2%    46.9%
DTH          2.6%     6.8%
MMDS         1.0%     2.6%