Television piracy in Asia is costing Asian pay-TV broadcasters $1.13 billion this year in lost potential revenue, so says an article in the Wall Street Journal (subscription needed) citing an industry survey.

"This is still a relatively small industry which cannot sustain such losses," says Simon Twiston Davies, chief executive officer of Casbaa, an advocacy group representing 110 corporations in Asian broadcasting.

Estimates put 2006 revenue for the Asian industry as a whole at $17 billion, including Japan and mainland China, where pay-TV piracy is less prevalent.

The biggest losses were in India, where piracy will cost the industry $685 million in 2006, the survey estimates.