EVENTS | PAY TV | CABLE TV | SATELLITE TV | STREAMING
One of the main meetings of the TIC and Cable and Satellite TV industry in Latin America. It will be on October 3 and 4, at the Hilton de Buenos Aires in the beautiful epicenter of Puerto Madero
Walter Burzaco
“The Pay TV subscription market encompasses some 9.5 million households, which represent 2/3 of households, according to ENACOM. This includes Cable and Satellite TV.” Explains Walter Burzaco, President of the Cable Television Association (ATVC) of Argentina in an exclusive interview with Amanda Ospina, Director of TVMAS
The debates on regulations for streaming channels have not developed standards that providers must apply. “Even the discussion was based on applying taxes and not regulating streaming service providers.”
“Many of them do not have domicile in Argentina and use the networks for free to distribute their content, even when they are giant global content companies.”
Regarding the FAST channels, Burzaco says “I do not have statistical data on the insertion of this type of services in the Argentine market.”
TVMAS is proud to be one of the MEDIA PARTNERS for 23 years of this important regional meeting that brings together not only the leaders and executives of Latin America but also internationally with brands such as Disney, NBC UNIVERSAL, RTVE and ATRESMEDIA of Spain, ZEE of India, BBC of London, DW of Germany, FRANCE 24, RFI of France, CONDISTA, RT from Russia, MGM, FOX, etc.
Argentina came to occupy fourth place in cable TV development worldwide. What has been the impact on the sector due to the saturation of the supply of streaming services and the dispersion of audiences (subscribers) and advertising?
Although streaming operators generally do not display advertising content, they are unable to stabilize subscriber retention. This is due to the cannibalization of the market between them. Those who achieve greater stability are complementary to TV and do not necessarily aim to be substitutes.
Cable TV in Argentina seems to be beginning to recover after the debates that have taken place regarding regulations for streaming channels. Where is this matter going and what are the expectations of the cable operator sector?
The Pay TV subscription market encompasses some 9.5 million subscribed households, which represent 2/3 of households, according to ENACOM. This includes cable and satellite TV. In recent years, there have been no variations in the number of subscribed households, given that it is a service that is in a stage of maturity.
How has streaming hit the cable TV subscriber bases in Argentina?
Streaming platforms initially had rapid growth, but they still fail to be a substitute for subscription TV, and behave as a complement. At a global level, they have not grown at the expected rate and subscription TV has not disappeared as some predicted.
Regarding the debates on regulations for streaming channels, they have not resulted in standards that providers must apply. Even the discussion was based on applying taxes and not regulating service providers. Many of them do not have domicile in the country, that is, they are not local companies and they use the networks for free to distribute their content, even when they are global content giants.
“Several Cable and Satellite operators offer services through streaming. They offer content libraries such as live programming: open TV, news, sports, recitals, and other programs of interest.”
Are there cable and satellite operators that provide streaming services?
Yes of course. Several cable and satellite operators offer services through streaming, which satisfy the needs of customers by offering both content libraries and live programming: open TV, news, sports, recitals and other programs of interest. This development matches the online competition and effectively retains subscribers because they have a complete service.
Are FAST channels competition for cable TV?
I do not have statistical data on the incursion of this type of services into the market. They are a novel format that seems to attract a young audience, and the innovation is welcome, but they replicate the pattern of relying on third-party networks and therefore being an intensive data user, which has a hidden cost.
A hot topic: subscription fees. What references can you make in this sense?
It is an issue conditioned by the economic situation of the country, rather than by the Government’s clumsy attempt to regulate prices, as if it were a public service. It affects the very high inflation suffered by the Argentine household economy, and this conditions the price updates that are very necessary for companies to continue operating.
Walter Burzaco is a recognized expert in the cable, satellite TV and TIC’s sectors, not only in Argentina but also in the southern region of Latin America.
Redacción TVMAS