Bolivian Autoridad de Regulación y Fiscalización  de Telecomunicaciones y Transportes  (ATT), telecommunications regulator in the country, reported that the pay TV market in the country ended September 2020 with 605,040 subscribers. Although the already mentioned figure shows a 653 subscribers growth in comparison with the 604,477 that ATT reported in June 2020, the regulator reported 653,219 clients in December 2019 and, to date, the sector has not managed to exceed that figure.

According to the ATT report, as of September 2020, La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba were the cities with the highest number of subscribers in Bolivia. Of the little more than 605 thousand pay TV subscribers reported, 193,922 were located in La Paz; 185,294 in Santa Cruz; and 95,041 in Cochabamba. In addition, the three cities mentioned represent 79% of the pay TV market share in Bolivia: La Paz represents 32%; followed by Santa Cruz (31%) and Cochabamba (16%).

Behind these cities are Tarija (36,101 subscribers and 6% of the market share); Oruro (35,939 subscribers; 6%); Potosi (26,803 clients; 4%); Chuquisaca (14,553 subscribers; 2%); Beni (13,943 clients; 2%); and Pando (3,444 clients; 1%).

Between December 2019 and September 2020, although La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba led the pay TV market share in Bolivia, only Cochabamba made an increase in the number of subscribers. According to the ATT report, La Paz went from reporting 209,113 to 193,922 pay TV subscribers; Santa Cruz made a drop from 211,070 to 185,294 clients in that period; while Cochabamba went from 94,306 to 95,041 subscribers. This way, between December 2019 and September 2020, the pay TV market in Bolivia lost 15,191 subscribers in La Paz and 25,776 in Santa Cruz; while in Cochabamba there was an increase of 735 clients.

During the first months of 2020, Rene Sanchez, Telecommunications Vice Minister in Bolivia, announced the new dates for the analog blackout’s implementation in the country. According to specialized websites, the initial date for the DTT migration will be November 30th, 2021, and will be developed in stages. The first of them will take place in La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, and then move on to the second, which will start on November 30th, 2023. It is expected that the analog blackout will be fully realized for the same date 2025.