LONDON: The number of new subscribers to the global pay-TV market increased by 2% in the third quarter of this year, reaching some 692m overall, according to data from ABI Research.

While the entry of a number of new TV platforms such as online video has slowed growth for satellite and cable TV firms, particularly in Western Europe and North America, growth is expected to remain strong in regions such as Eastern Europe and Latin America.

"Pay-TV subscriber growth is holding steady in a number of world regions," ABI Research practice director Jason Blackwell said.

Meanwhile, paid-for digital terrestrial TV has seen success in countries such as France, Spain and Italy, where the pay terrestrial TV provider Mediaset is the leader in its market.

Mediaset added nearly 300,000 subscribers in Q2 this year to reach a total subscriber base of 4.4m.

There was also strong growth in worldwide IPTV subscriptions in the third quarter of 2010, with more than 2.7m viewers added.

Western Europe remains the largest IPTV market, followed by Asia Pacific and North America, and ABI believes the overall worldwide IPTV user base will exceed 53m by the end of 2011.

Data sourced from ABI Research; additional content by Warc staff