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

In the first quarter of 2015, the sales of the pay TV market decreased, compared to the similar timeframe of 2014, along with a decline of the number of subscribers to these services, according to the statistical data on the evolution of pay TV market (cable, IP TV, MMDS), published by the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI). In the first quarter of this year, the total volume of sales on this market segment was 38,4 million lei, a reduction by 2,4 million lei (­5,9%), while the number of subscribers dropped by 6,4 thousand (­2,4%) and made up 267,6 thousand.

The decrease of sales on the pay TV market was driven mainly by lower sales by providers of cable and MMDS (Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service) networks. The turnover reduced by 4 million lei (­14,5%) and constituted 23,5 million lei. The revenues from IP TV increased over the I quarter of 2014, by 1,6 million lei (+12%) up to 14,9 mil. lei.

The pay TV ARPU (average monthly revenue per user) slightly dropped, by 1% and equaled 47,4 lei. As well, in this timeframe, this indicator registered by the biggest pay TV service providers as follows: LLC „Sun Communications” – 4,8% and equaled 36,3 lei JSC „Moldtelecom” – 2,2%, reaching 65,8 lei.

The decrease was caused by the lowering number of subscribers of the biggest pay TV service provider – „Sun Communications” – by 1000 subscribers (­1%), as well as of other providers on this market – by 6,8 thousand subscribers (­5,8%). However, the number of subscribers of JSC „Moldtelecom” increased by 1,4 thousand (+2,5%).

As a result of this evolution, only operators of IP TV networks succeeded in collecting higher revenues, by 1,6 million lei (+12%) and subscriber base. The number of these subscribers increased by 2,6 thousand (+4%) and reached 65,2 thousand.

As per 01.04.2015, 75,4% of the total of 267,6 thousand pay TV subscribers were cable TV subscribers, 24,4% – IP TV subscribers and 0,2% – MMDS subscribers.

By the end of the first quarter of 2015, the pay TV market was operated by 83 providers. The market shares owned by leading providers of pay TV services, by turnover, were as follows: LLC "Sun Communications" – 28,9%, JSC "Moldtelecom" – 28,3%, LLC"AMT" – 3,9%. The market share of other providers jointly was 38.8%.

Other information about the development of the pay TV market in the first quarter of 2015 is available on ANRCETI web site, Statistical Data section.

June 10, 2015