BARB vs Continental Research – Satellite Universe Figures

As ever the confusion about the actual size of the UK satellite market continues amid allegations made at the weekend by The Independent on Sunday that the satellite market was in fact shrinking.

Figures given to MediaTel by each of the main industry data sources; BARB and Continental Research, would not however seem to bear this fact out:

Dish Universe (M)

                     End Aug 1992        End Dec 1992              % Change BARB                        2.139                   2.297                   + 7.4 
C.S.                    2.544                   2.596                   + 2.0 

According to Continental Research, its growth figure over the period is lower than BARB’s because it has made historic adjustments to figures in December to account for the ‘upgrading of equipment’ which has been taking place over the last quarter, but which it was not aware was of such significant proportions. BARB, on the other hand, has been accounting for this steadily throughout.

Continental Research believes that the above adjustments, along with changes made to account for ‘squarial’ non transfers to Astra dishes, will bring estimates more into line with BARB. In terms of the overall market, including cable and SMATV, it believes there to be little difference between the two sources.

Continental Research: 071 490 5944

BARB: 081 741 9110