HAMPSHIRE, England-European mobile users will help the mobile adult content market grow from $1.6 billion this year to more than $3.3 billion by 2011, according to new figures from Juniper Research.
The market research firm predicted that the “well developed, high priced” European market will account for 39 percent of racy wireless content revenues during the next five years, with Asia Pacific representing one-third of the overall market. Video will play an increasingly important role in the space, Juniper said, accounting for more than 70 percent of adult mobile revenues by 2011.
Analysts agree that North American growth will continue to lag behind other markets as network operators continue to keep adult content at arm’s length, refusing to let content providers charge customers through monthly statements.
“Adult content business models have succeeded in other major delivery media: print, cinema, DVD, PPV TV, etc.” said Bruce Gibson, a Juniper research director. “There is no reason why the mobile channel should not be equally profitable for adult content industry players. . I think the biggest opportunity is at the casual and ‘softer’ end of the adult market-lads in pubs sharing a video clip after a few pints and people looking for a bit of fun when they have spare time to kill, etc.-not the hardcore stuff.”
