U.S. pay-TV operators, both telcos and MSOs, are starting to see a shift in revenues from TV delivery services to broadband delivery services; their counterparts in Asia are beginning to see a similar pattern. In fact, a report from ABI Research said Asia-Pacific revenues from IPTV delivery and fiber broadband are likely to increase 34 percent, from $110 billion to $147 billion, between 2010 and 2016.
The biggest winner in the region is likely to be telcos, which are expected to see revenues grow some 51 percent. And, even though cable is expected to see a pay-TV revenue decline in the region of about 3 percent, from $51 billion to $49.5 billion, losses will be partially offset by an increase in broadband revenues.
In an interview with FierceIPTV, ABI Research senior analyst Sam Rosen called Asia a "wildcard" with enormous potential for growth in both IPTV and broadband services, and he pointed to regulatory issues as potential game changers.
He reiterated that in the latest study, "Pay TV and Broadband Markets in China, India, Japan and Asia-Pacific," both China and India are unfolding significant regulations, which will shift the balance of power between telcos and cable companies.
"China's Triple-Play Net Convergence initiative has already started to force the consolidation of provincial-level cable operators to serve populations of approximately 20 million-- up from small regional operators serving hundreds of thousands to a few million," said Rosen. "India is discussing a broadband plan built around a national fiber optic network that has the potential to improve broadband penetration and other services--if the country can get past political and regulatory hurdles."
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