Digital television penetration in the Asia Pacific region is forecast to reach 606 million TV households by 2010, an increase of 130 million since 1995, according to a new report from Informa Telecoms & Media.
“Asia Pacific Television – Ninth Edition” predicts that out of the total for 2010, 46% of consumers will subscribe to cable, 3% to digital DHT packages, 2% to broadband television services, while 3% will receive DTT signals.
Just under half of television households in the region, 47%, will only be able to receive analogue terrestrial signals, leaving plenty of scope for subscription and digital systems to grow by 2010, according to Informa
Commenting on the findings, Adam Thomas, author of the report said: “The Asian digital TV sector made some good strides forward in 2004 and looks set to finally take off in 2005. Cable remains the region’s dominant platform, but there has also been significant progress in the rollout of digital satellite. Broadband TV is also emerging, with some important players effectively positioning themselves as a significant rival to cable and satellite.”
He added: “Until now, digital penetration has been held back by weak economies, but also by obstructive politicians. It is only recently that governments, notably the Chinese one, have been taking a proactive approach to converting analogue signals to digital.”
Thomas points out that, although, the growth figures are impressive, less than one-quarter of Asia Pacific TV households will receive digital signals by 2010. In fact, digital penetration is forecast to be higher than 50% of TV households in only eight of the region’s countries, with the highest being Hong Kong at 81.5%.
Subscription revenues are set to rise dramatically, which is primarily due to the greater choice provided by digital transmissions. By 2010, Japan, China and India will account for 75% of the $37 billion total.
Earlier this month, the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) revealed a dramatic take up in digital technology across Britain over the last quarter of 2004, resulting in over half of all UK homes having the new technology (see IPA Reports Over Half Of UK Homes Have Digital TV).
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