National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology of the Republic of Moldova

The statistical data regarding the evolution of the pay TV market provided for payment (via cable networks and IPTV networks) in 2018, processed by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), shows that during this period the number of subscribers to these services increased by 1,8% compared to the end of 2017 and reached 329,7 thousand, while the total sales volume on this market increased by 1,6% to 162,1 million lei.

The number of subscribers connected to IPTV services increased by 14,1% to 159,2 thousand, while the number of those who chose the cable networks decreased by 7,7% down to 170 thousand. As a result of this evolution the penetration rate of pay TV services per 100 inhabitants increased by 0,2 percentage points and was estimated at 9,3%.

According to the data presented by 80 active providers on the pay TV market - 51,6% of the total subscribers used cable TV networks, 48,3% - IPTV networks and 0,1% - MMDS technology. The same data show that 62,5% of subscribers received digital TV signal and 37,5% - in analog format.

The increase in revenues from the sale of pay TV services was driven by the increase in sales by IPTV providers. Their turnover increased by 6,8% compared to 2017 and was estimated at 79,1 million lei, while the revenues of the cable TV providers decreased by 2,8% down to 82,8 million lei. Thus, the average monthly revenue per subscriber (ARPU) was 41,8 lei which is a 4,5% decrease.

In 2018, the largest providers on the pay TV service market held, according to revenues, the following market shares: S.A. "Moldtelecom" - 34,6%, LLC "Sun Communications" - 19,6% and LLC "TV BOX" - 12,8%. The cumulative market share of the other 77 suppliers was 33%.

April 2, 2019