Study structure and methodology
This report has been entitled “Malaysia pay-TV market, 2012-2020”. The following eco-system players in Malaysia markets have been included in the study: FTA, DTH, cable and IPTV operators.
The report is made up of six chapters: Malaysia market summary, Terrestrial TV and digitization update, Satellite TV, Cable TV, IPTV and TV every where.
The “Malaysia market summary” chapter captures historical TV household development figures and forecasts for Malaysia market. The chapter also includes information about advertising expenses on TV. The regulatory factors influencing the market and their possible impact are analyzed in this chapter. The chapter also deep dives into terrestrial television regulation and digitization plans.
Accordingly, the chapter entitled “Terrestrial TV” forecasts the terrestrial digitization in the country. Analysis on number of analog and digital cable subscribers, this chapter also captures profiles of terrestrial broadcasters and their plans for digitization. The third chapter, Satellite TV, summarizes the update on Satellite pay-TV and FTA operations in Malaysia and a sub-section on satellite platform operators is captured. Key profiles of Satellite pay-TV and FTA operators and their future plans are incorporated in this chapter. This chapter also forecasts satellite TV households, Satellite FTA and pay-TV subscribers and revenue to operators from satellite operations.
The fourth chapter on cable TV captures market for cable TV. This chapter has forecasts for cable subscribers and market size of cable TV in Malaysia. Key profiles of operators and their future plans are encapsulated in this chapter. The fifth chapter on IPTV, talks about the broadband market scenario in Malaysia, IPTV subscribers and market size forecasts. Profile of IPTV players is also included in this chapter. The last chapter captures emerging TV everywhere technology for Malaysia market and profiles.
Executive Summary
As on 2012, Malaysia had more than 28 million population and 6.5 million TV households. The rising GDP and the income level of the people have favored growth of various TV platforms as the affordability for consumption of content has spiked. The market is culturally diversified which has given rise to channels based on ethnicity and language. The prominent languages captivating the market are Malaya, Tamil and Chinese.
Malaysia market showcases highly evolved regulatory frame work and licensing regime for the broadcasting industry governed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). In the presence of clear licensing regime and regulations; a healthy competitive environment has evolved.
Astro penetrates approximately 50% of Malaysian TV HHs, making it the largest pay-tv operator in Malaysia with satellite- pay and FTA, IPTV and TV everywhere offerings. Astro’s exclusive rights to operate DTH services expire in 2017. After it expires, there may be new DTH operators entering the market, which would increase competition for Astro. However, we see low likelihood of multiple DTH operators in a country the size of Malaysia. Moreover, it takes about two years lead time to secure the satellite capacity in Malaysia.
The pay TV market is competitive with the emergence of new entrants such as Hypp TV IPTV (Telekom Malaysia), ABNxcess-cable and possibly new entrants on the digital terrestrial platform. Dataxis believes that IPTV will strengthen its position in the market in the next few years, as government and TM initiated high speed broadband network deployment will result in upsurge of nation-wide broadband penetration. This would in-turn favor entry of new players and mass acceptance of triple-play services. Competition from ecosystem players for obtaining rights to premium content has intensified over the last few years
Currently, there are three government and four commercial FTA channels operated by Media Prima. With terrestrial digitization efforts undertaken by the government, this segment will show promising growth with leading broadcasters splitting up existing channels into genres and offering plethora of channels to subscribers. The advertising revenue will fund such transition of channels.
The advertising market in Malaysia is strong compared to size of the country. In 2012, TV adex corresponded to 54% of the total adex. The upcoming political election in Malaysia is expected to boost the adex even further.
The regulator will open up to foreign players and support new entrants into the market, which may result in availability of more international content and increase competition in market along with providing variety of content to customers.
In summary, this report focuses on the MCMC regulatory framework, the terrestrial digitization implementation effort and also captures the market potential for satellite, IPTV and cable operator service revenues and sustaining of terrestrial broadcasting and other emerging technology like TV everywhere in the sector.
The report projects that Satellite, IPTV and cable operator’s service revenue annually would approach USD 3.7 billion, USD 1.6 billion and USD 249 million respectively by 2020, with total pay-TV HHs in excess of 5 million by that year.
This report was developed in the period February/ March 2013. This report is targeted at giving the reader an overview of the Malaysia market to be sufficiently informed. The currency conversion rate used through the report is historic RM to USD rates as applicable and 1USD=3.1 RM is used for year 2012, projected years.
