Romania's digital cable TV subscribers increase 85% in 1H 2011

The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (Autoritatea Nationala pentru Administrare si Reglementare in Comunicatii – ANCOM) has published its half-yearly statistical data report on the Romanian electronic communications market for the first half of 2011.

The total number of pay TV subscribers in Romania was steady in the first half of the year at around 5.7 million. Although the number of IPTV subscribers is growing rapidly (by 3 times year-on-year), these service providers represent only a tiny share (<1%) of the total number of pay TV subscribers.

The total number of cable TV subscribers was only slightly up (by 3.9%) in the first half, but the number of digital cable subscribers grew by 85%, from 12% of the total at the end of 2010 to a 21% penetration by mid-year. In total, 2.98 million subscribers receive digital pay TV by means of either cable networks (0.735 million), DTH satellite (2.203 million) or IPTV (38,400).

Subscriber and operator statistics (subscribers in thousands)

                         30.06.2009  31.12.2009  30.06.2010  31.12.2010  30.06.2011  Y/Y Growth
                         ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Cable TV
  Number of subscribers       3,420       3,410       3,370       3,330       3,460       +2.6%
    Digital                     260         319         352         397         735     +108.8%
  Number of operators           494         503         503         478         475
Satellite (DTH)
  Number of subscribers       2,304       2,333       2,263       2,383       2,203       -2.7%
  Number of operators             5           5           5           5           3
IPTV
  Number of subscribers        0.40        0.75        12.8        30.0        38.4     +200.0%
  Number of operators             1           2           2           2           3

TOTAL
  Number of subscribers       5,720       5,740       5,650       5,740       5,700       +0.9%
    Digital                   2,564       2,653       2,629       2,810       2,977      +13.2%