Downturn Starts To Nibble, But Bite Is Still To Come

摘要

The thesis that pay television is resistant to the recession is being increasingly put to the test and an analysis of the latest results from key European satellite, cable and IPTV operators shows that most are coming under pressure.rnMost operators posted weaker results for subscriber additions in the last quarter of 2008 compared with the last quarter of 2007 and about half suffered net losses of customers.rnThe fourth quarter of the year has traditionally been the strongest one for pay-television additions, thanks to the combination of seasonal equipment purchases, longer nights and stronger television schedules.rnBut this time, not only was subscriber growth generally lower but churn rates were generally higher than they were in the equivalent period of 2007. Historically, churn tends to narrow in the final quarter of the year.