Latin American digital market revenues increased by 26 percent in 2011, which places the region’s growth rate above all other emerging markets, according to recent analysis issued June 12. The numbers of DTH subscribers have increased dramatically in recent years, as pay-TV continues to underpin the satellite market with demands for capacity. Research reports from industry firms Euroconsult and ABI Research paint a strong picture for satellite despite the emergence of IPTV in many countries.
   Euroconsult’s new research study on global satellite pay-TV market “Satellite TV Platforms, World Survey and Prospects to 2021,” showed satellite pay-TV industry revenues reaching $90 billion in 2011, up from $79 billion in 2010. The study also predicts that global industry revenues will reach close to $150 billion in 2021, with emerging markets in Latin America, Central Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Asia representing a growing share of revenues that will nearly double by 2021 to reach 44 percent.
   The number of regional DTH subscribers has skyrocketed in the last five years, according to Euroconsult Consultant Dimitri Buchs, who pointed out that subscriptions to satellite TV platforms in emerging digital TV markets increased from 19 million in 2006 to 110 million in 2011.
   “India has been one of the main growth drivers over the five-year period, with countries like Brazil, Mexico, Russia and even Indonesia joining forces more recently,” said Buchs. “Asia has even become the leading region in terms of subscriptions, thanks to the booming Indian market. Revenues have also increased consequently in emerging digital markets in the recent past. In 2011, they increased by 26 percent, with Latin America leading the way. The growing number of value-added services offered in these regions favors revenue growth and enables platforms to better apprehend competition.”
   While growth in established market shows no signs of slowing, Buchs highlighted new platforms launching in emerging markets as a key trend, with Latin America and South-East Asia representing two of the most dynamic regions. “An increasing number of countries have at least one active platform, the latest countries to rollout services being Myanmar and Georgia in 2011,” said Buchs. “As a consequence, there were more than 100 satellite pay-TV platforms in emerging markets at year-end 2011. With the exception of the Middle East, all regions participated in expanding the number of platforms worldwide. The number of countries with at least one satellite pay-TV platform keeps on growing year after year and this trend is expected to continue in coming years.”