Gross SVOD Subscriptions Up 38% in 2018

Dismissing the notion that the subscription streaming business has become saturated, at least at the global level, Digital TV Research said that gross SVOD subscriptions increased by 139 million in 2018 to 508 million, a 38% uptick.

According to the research company, the net subscriber count—what’s left after churn is considered—was up by 31%, or 83 million subscribers.

The average SVOD subscriber paid for 1.43 SVOD subscriptions at the end of 2018, up from 1.05 in 2010, Digital TV Research said.

More than a fifth of the world’s TV households had at least one SVOD subscription as of the end of last year

“China and the U.S. together accounted for 63% of the global total in 2018,” said Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, in a statement. “China overtook the U.S. in 2018 to become the gross SVOD subscription leader. China added nearly 60 million subscriptions in 2018 alone, with the US up by 27 million (despite its relative maturity). India nearly doubled its subscription base.”

Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!