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๐บ Internet Disruptions Drive Growth in Pay TV
According to a report from TMT Consulting, the Russian pay TV market made an unexpected comeback in 2025. Following two years of decline, the subscriber base rose to 46.7 million, while revenue climbed by 4.6%, reaching 112.9 billion RUB.
The primary catalyst for this growth was a mass migration to fixed-line broadband, triggered by persistent disruptions and outages in mobile internet services. As consumers rushed to install home fiber, operators successfully capitalized on the trend by offering “Internet + TV” bundles.
Key Market Trends:
- IPTV Lead: IPTV emerged as the fastest-growing technology, adding 0.67 million new users.
- Cable Stability: The churn rate in the cable TV segment slowed, primarily because the service is frequently “hard-wired” into multi-play subscription plans.
- Satellite Decline: The satellite segment continues to struggle, losing subscribers for the fourth consecutive year (-0.25 million).
- ARPU Growth: The Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) increased to 202 RUB per month.
- Market Competition: Rostelecom has nearly closed the gap with market leader Tricolor, with the difference between the two shrinking to just 0.45 million subscribers.
Outlook for 2026:
Despite the recent surge, experts at TMT Consulting anticipate a slight downturn in 2026. This projected dip is attributed to ongoing technical issues with satellite infrastructure and a continued shift in audience preference toward online streaming platforms.
Source: Dni Medialogistiki
