Cable Take-Up Continues To Rise

Despite being behind many other European countries, take-up of cable television in the UK has risen for the fifth successive quarter to its highest ever level, 23.7%. According to the Independent Television Commission’s (ITC) latest quarterly analysis, one third of all homes passed by broadband cable now subscribe to either cable TV, telephone or both.

There are now almost 12 million homes which have been ‘plumbed in’ to receive cable services. Of these just under 4 million are currently connected via TV, telephone or both, giving a penetration of 33.6%. There are 2.8 million homes which subscribe to a cable TV service, giving a TV penetration of 23.7%.

This means that 11.9% of the country’s TV households receive their television services through a broadband cable operator. According to BARB monthly dish estimates, there are currently 4.1 million satellite TV homes, around 17% of the country’s total TV households.

Whilst virtually all of the 4.1 million satellite homes are served by BSkyB, the cable industry is fragmented across three major service operators. Of these, Telewest Communications is the largest with just over 4 million homes passed and 982,000 connected (24.5%) by 1 January 1999. Cable & Wireless Communications is the second largest cable operator with 3.9 million homes passed and 836,000 connected (21.1%). NTL has 2.6 million homes passed and 765,000 connected (29.4%).

The most received channels in cable homes are Sky One, QVC and BBC News 24.

Independent Television Commission: 0171 255 3000