Pay TV: shifting consumer behaviour is spurring competition and service innovation
This report is available to those subscribed to the Fixed, TV and Convergence module.
Pay-TV markets are undergoing significant transformation, driven by shifting consumer behaviour and advancements in enabling technologies. Against this backdrop, understanding the evolution of consumer behaviour is key for companies looking to formulate or adjust their commercial strategies and plans for video services.
Drawing upon our consumer survey covering eight major countries worldwide (China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the UK and the US) we uncover some of the consumer trends shaping the pay-TV market. For example, one key trend is the rise of cord cutting, with 48% of leavers citing cost of the service as the top reason. Another important development is that the share of subscribers to online TV services who hold three or more services has reached 40%, suggesting that growth may slow down in the future. Additionally, 46% of mobile subscribers already have or are interested in adding video streaming services to their mobile subscriptions, representing an opportunity for bundling.
We also present several case studies of operators innovating their TV propositions.
Related research
IBC 2025: AI dominated the scene but it was not the only area of innovation and developments
The 2025 edition of IBC, one of the largest annual gatherings of the media and entertainment industry, had nearly 44,000 attendees from over 170 countries, with 1,300 exhibitors showcasing innovations and cutting-edge technology. AI was the dominant theme at the show, with a focus on generative AI and agentic AI. But there were also key developments in free-to-air TV and an uptick among vendors looking to increase interactivity to generate customer stickiness.
Industry Checkpoint: pay TV, Q3 2025
This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on pay TV, including traditional pay TV and OTT video services, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications. The report considers four major developments: acceleration of pay-DTT service closures; US cable operators intensifying their efforts to combat cord-cutting; growing interest from pay-TV operators in FAST-related partnerships; and leading OTT video streaming providers increasing their push on immersive video experiences.
Pay TV: uncovering the shifts in consumer behaviour affecting adoption and commercial strategies
Leveraging data from our consumer survey, this report provides insights into the evolution of consumer behaviour across traditional pay TV, OTT video services and mobile video usage. It highlights key trends and their implications, as well as actionable recommendations for key players in the video ecosystem.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
IBC 2025: AI dominated the scene but it was not the only area of innovation and developments
The 2025 edition of IBC, one of the largest annual gatherings of the media and entertainment industry, had nearly 44,000 attendees from over 170 countries, with 1,300 exhibitors showcasing innovations and cutting-edge technology. AI was the dominant theme at the show, with a focus on generative AI and agentic AI. But there were also key developments in free-to-air TV and an uptick among vendors looking to increase interactivity to generate customer stickiness.
Industry Checkpoint: pay TV, Q3 2025
This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on pay TV, including traditional pay TV and OTT video services, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications. The report considers four major developments: acceleration of pay-DTT service closures; US cable operators intensifying their efforts to combat cord-cutting; growing interest from pay-TV operators in FAST-related partnerships; and leading OTT video streaming providers increasing their push on immersive video experiences.
Pay TV: uncovering the shifts in consumer behaviour affecting adoption and commercial strategies
Leveraging data from our consumer survey, this report provides insights into the evolution of consumer behaviour across traditional pay TV, OTT video services and mobile video usage. It highlights key trends and their implications, as well as actionable recommendations for key players in the video ecosystem.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics