32.5 million pay TV subscribers in Russia at end-1H 2013

According to iKS-Consulting, the number of pay TV subscribers in Russia at the end of June 2013 was 32.5 million, up 13% compared with the same point in 2012. The number of operators with a subscriber base of over 1 million increased during that time from 5 to 7, with the top 7 representing 78% of the market. The two new ‘millionaire’ operators were satellite TV provider Orion Express, with the fastest growing service (up 81% year-on-year), and Vimpelcom, whose IPTV service gained 22% more subscribers over the year.

Pay TV household penetration was 58% at end-June, with iKS-Consulting forecasting that it will reach 68% in 2018.

Operators with a subscriber base of over 1 million, 1H 2013

                  1H 2013  1H 2012  Growth
                  -------  -------  ------
Tricolor TV         9,500    7,950     19%
Rostelecom          6,900    6,188     12%
MTS                 2,884    2,937     -2%
ER-Telecom          2,469    2,006     23%
Orion-Express       1,360      750     81%
Akado               1,111    1,099      1%
Vimpelcom           1,042      855     22%

Cable TV remains the most popular technology, accounting for more than half of all subscribers. However, despite the ongoing construction of networks, the share of cable TV is gradually reducing, as satellite TV and IPTV out-grow the market. iKS-Consulting estimates that in 2018 the share of satellite TV will reach 39% and the share of IPTV will be 12%, with cable TV making up the remaining 49%.

Market share, by technology, 1H 2013

                  1H 2013  1H 2012  Growth
                  -------  -------  ------
Cable TV              54%      58%      4%
Satellite TV          37%      34%     23%
IPTV                   9%       7%     44%