The rise of cord-cutting: why consumers are cancelling subscriptions to traditional pay-TV services
This report is available to those subscribed to the Fixed, TV and Convergence module.
Pay-TV data from GSMA Intelligence shows that half the 36 major countries it tracks worldwide saw a fall in the number of traditional pay-TV connections between 2020 and 2022, with the US leading. In most of the 18 countries that saw a decline, cord-cutting (consumers cancelling their subscription to traditional pay-TV services) is on the rise, reflected in a higher volume of cancellations in 2022 than in 2021.
GSMA Intelligence leveraged its global consumer survey across eight major countries – China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the UK and US – to examine the factors driving this cord-cutting trend. The results shine light on the implications for providers of traditional pay-TV services.
Related research
Pay-TV Markets, Q2 2025: developments and outlook
Pay-TV markets are seeing an unprecedented evolution, driven by technology investments, shifting consumer behaviour and competition (including from OTT players). This quarterly series outlines the latest market developments and the key trends to watch, charting the period to 2030. The report also provides comprehensive cross-country comparisons at your fingertips, allowing you to identify which markets or technologies will grow the most or how OTT competition will impact the adoption of traditional pay TV.
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.
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
Pay-TV Markets, Q2 2025: developments and outlook
Pay-TV markets are seeing an unprecedented evolution, driven by technology investments, shifting consumer behaviour and competition (including from OTT players). This quarterly series outlines the latest market developments and the key trends to watch, charting the period to 2030. The report also provides comprehensive cross-country comparisons at your fingertips, allowing you to identify which markets or technologies will grow the most or how OTT competition will impact the adoption of traditional pay TV.
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.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics