Pay-TV industry disappears in 2020

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The pay-TV industry is a $140 billion business, growing to $222 billion by 2013. By 2020 that industry will collapse in most developed markets as customers and the six major content conglomerates fundamentally change the industry with a direct relationship over the internet.

The critical enabler is not technology but a fundamental cultural change in how people consume TV content. From being frustrated that there's nothing to watch on TV today, in 2020 as they turn on the TV their favorite programs, shows, movies, as well as popular and relevant stuff will all be there with none of today's waste.

Customers win with lower costs, better entertainment, more time and real choice. Content owners win with greater revenues.

Alan Quayle is a telecom consultant 

Next: LTE thrives, Wimax survives
Back to: Goodbye to ARPU and MOU

2020 at a glance

• Telco of one
• 20 billion connected devices
• Augmented reality
• End-to-end fiber
• Smart enablers
• Content conflicts
• Dumb pipes rule OK
• RIP ARPU and MOU
• RIP pay-TV
• LTE thrives, Wimax survives
• Rethink in approach to generating revenue
• The coming application store shakedown
• Only scratched the surface
• Low-cost 4G everywhere
• Big pipe – bigger apps

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