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Global pay TV subscription market decline hits $228.5 billion in 2021: MPA report
Mumbai: The pay TV subscription market excluding online video subscription hit $228.5 billion globally in 2021, according to Motion Pictures Association (MPA) Theme Report. This is a decline from 2020 when the pay TV subscription market was at $233.1 billion. Cable remained the largest subscription market in terms of revenue. Online video subscription became the second-largest subscription revenue market in 2021, surpassing satellite TV, as a result of a $17.9 billion or 26 per cent increase, the report stated.
The global total of online video subscriptions (1.3), such as Netflix or Disney+ increased by 14 per cent or 164.1 million when comparing 2021 to 2020, found the report. This was less than the number of online video subscriptions added in 2020 which was 232.1 million. The number of cable subscriptions decreased by one percent in 2021 to 526.5 million.
The global box office market was $21.3 billion in 2021 up by 81 per cent compared to 2020 due to theatre re-openings following the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns but remained well below pre-pandemic levels. The international box office market, excluding the US and Canada, stood at $16.8 billion, increased by 76 per cent and accounted for 79 per cent of the global market.
The home/mobile entertainment market which includes content released digitally and on discs reached $78.5 billion globally, an increase of 14 per cent compared to 2020. The digital market was the driver of growth, according to the report.
When pay television subscription is added to the total combined global theatrical and home/mobile entertainment market, the value increases to $328.2 billion, a six percent increase compared to 2020, matching 2019’s record high.
Pay television subscription accounted for 70 percent of the total combined theatrical, home/mobile entertainment, and pay TV market, with the digital market (22 per cent), theatrical market (six per cent), and the physical market (two per cent) making up the rest.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
