Digital TV To Reach 45 Million Europeans By 2011

The number of European Homes with digital television access is expected to quadruple over the next four years, with new research forecasting 44.9 million European countries to have access to digital signals on their main TV set by 2011.

According to Informa Telecoms and Media, 16.6% of European homes will be digitally enabled by 2011, compared to just 4.5% by the end of 2005.

Commenting on the findings, Simon Dyson, author of the report, said: “DTT coverage in France is expected to reach 70% of the country by the end of 2006 and 85% by the end of 2007, with a target completion date for switchover planned for 2010.”

He continued: “Germany’s move from analogue to digital is also progressing well. While the country has set a provisional date of 2010, the progress of digital terrestrial launches means it might well happen as soon as the end of 2008.”

Sweden is expected to be one of the first countries to switch off analogue transmissions, in 2008, with the UK aiming for 2012.

Recent research from Screen Digest claims that some European countries will find it hard to comply with the government imposed analogue switchover dates.

Screen Digest reveals that the switch-off challenge is much greater in the UK, France, Italy and Spain, with the countries having later switchover dates reflecting this.

Italy currently has 14 million analogue-reliant mountain homes, meaning it will have to convert 4.6 million homes a year in order to meet its target switchover date of 2008.

France has to convert 2.1 million homes a year, while Spain is looking at a yearly figure of 1.6 million.

The UK has a far more achievable target of 803,000 homes a year to convert, with the impressive up-take of Freeview aiding the switchover process.

Informa Media: www.informa.com