Global OTT revenues hit $68bn

OTT revenues worldwide reached a high of US$68bn in 2018, climbing by US$17bn since 2017, according to new figures.

Total revenues stood at US$30bn in 2016 and US$51bn in 2017, with the US and China continuing to be the main drivers of global year-on-year increases.

Among the 138 countries featured in the analyst’s OTT TV and Video Databook, the top five markets (US, China, UK, Japan and Germany) accounted for 71% of last year’s global revenues.

Global OTT and video revenue data by top countries ($m)

Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “The US added US$6.5bn in revenues in 2018, with China up by US$3.6bn. Therefore, the US and China were together responsible for more than half the world’s additional revenues in 2018.”

Ten countries exceeded the US$1bn revenue mark in 2018.

SVoD services became the largest source of OTT revenue in 2014 after overtaking AVoDs. SVoD’s share reached 53% in 2018, with revenues climbing by US$11bn in 2018 to US$36bn – a jump of 44%. AVoD revenues increased by US$5bn in 2018, taking the total to US$22bn.