While worldwide pay-TV subscriptions continue to increase and the total number of subscriptions is forecast to exceed 745 million in 2011, the same growth isn’t predicted for cable. High cable penetration in regions such as North America and western Europe, and the increasing popularity of online video services, have resulted in slow growth in worldwide cable TV markets.

According to the most recent market data from ABI Research, there were more than 704 million pay-TV subscribers globally at the end of 2010, an increase of more than 56 million subscribers from 2009. The growth rate is good in all pay-TV platforms except cable TV. The Asia-Pacific region, which owns 57 percent of global pay-TV subscriptions, remains the largest pay-TV market in the world. In terms of subscriptions, China and India already stand in the first and second positions respectively in the worldwide pay-TV market.

ABI Research’s new Market Data product, “Pay-TV Subscriber Market Data” is updated quarterly and profiles global pay-TV subscription information. Detailed market trends and market forecast information for key regions and countries around the world are provided where available.