UK To Lead Europe In Digital Penetration
The UK is expected to lead Western Europe in terms of digital television penetration, according to a new preport by Informa Telecoms & Media, with the nation predicted to account for almost 35% of Europe’s digital total by the end of the year.
Western Europe as a whole is expected to see digital TV penetration rise by 25% by the end of the year, pushing the total number of households able to receive the signals to 25.8 million. The pace of penetration is not expected to slow either, with the 50 million mark expected to be reached by 2006.
Over the next five years, Informa predicts the number of digital subscribers to more than double, hitting just under 100 million by 2010.
Commenting on the findings, Adam Thomas, author of the Western European Television report said: “The future is increasingly bright for digital TV in Europe. The cable and satellite sectors are reaping the benefits of consolidation and debt restructuring and this has resulted in stronger companies that have the resources to upgrade their networks and fully market their services.”
The next year should see France enjoying a digital TV share of 15.3%, with Germany and Italy both at 13.7%, according to the predictions.
However, despite being estimated to add more than five million digital subscribers from 2005 to 2010, the UK’s standing in Europe is predicted to drop, with the nation’s share of digital penetration across the continent dipping to 21.6% by the end of the decade. Germany is forecast to overtake the UK, however, increasing its share to 25%.
Informa forecasts that digital penetration will reach half of Eestern European television households by 2008, with cable TV notching up a 26% share by the end of 2010, while DTH and DTT sit at 20% and 13% respectively. Meanwhile, internet protocol television (IPTV) will be present in 6% of the region’s television households.
IPTV’s strong growth is attributed to rapid advances in digital subscriber line (DSL) penetration, with Informa predicting high profile launches within the area in the second half of 2005 and 2006.
The UK has adapted well to the new technology, with Ed Richards, Ofcom’s senior partner for strategy and market development saying: “Digital television is growing at the rate of 250,000, the population of Sheffield, every month and now for the first time ever, more people are accessing the internet through broadband than narrowband” (see Ofcom Strategy Chief Predicts An On-Demand Future).
Speaking at the first Ofcom Annual Lecture to the Westminster Media Forum, Richards highlighted the growth of on-demand television, saying: “In many countries television over DSL is already well advanced; in this country HomeChoice are already offering an attractive service to 15,000 users. In Italy, Fastweb has more than 150,000 TV over DSL subscribers. In France, Neuf and Free together have around 350,000 TV over DSL, triple play subscribers. It is a liberation of consumers, viewers and listeners to determine their own viewing, their own listening, their own schedule, their own compilations, their own content and even their own services.”
Informa Telecoms & Media: www.informa.com