Digital TV Set For Take Off In Major Markets

Digital Broadcasting Revolution – Fifth Edition claims that the top countries accounted for a total of 56 million digital homes at the end of 2001. This is set to increase to more than 65 million this year, equivalent to 25% of the available market. By 2008, there are predicted to be more than 136 million digital households in the key seven markets and 400 million worldwide.

DTH remains the most popular platform for receiving digital television and there will be 38 million subscribers in the featured countries at the end of this year. This is expected to increase by almost a third to 50 million by 2008. However, DTH is set to be eclipsed by digital cable which will eventually account for 67 million subscribers or half of the digital population.

The DTT sector has been hit by the collapse of ITV Digital and Quiero and there is no sign of expansion in the near future. Nonetheless, it is estimated that the number of DTT homes in the major countries will quadruple to 8 million by 2008. DSL video services are an emerging technology but Informa predicts that they will attract more than 10 million subscribers in the main markets over the next six years.

Digital TV Homes By Platform In Top Seven Countries (000s)
	2001	2002	2003	2008
Cable	19,257	24,876	31,379	67,219
DTH	34,022	38,314	41,470	50,139
DSL Video	110	333	1,035	10,425
DTT	2,273	2,189	2,972	8,206
Total	57,663	67,714	78,859	137,997
Source: Informa Media Group, October 2002

The United States is the leading DTV country with more than 40 million subscribers and it will consolidate its position between now and 2008. However, Japan is set to experience the highest growth rate and will overtake the UK in the next six years.

Digital Homes By Country (000s)
	2002	2008	% Growth
France	4,516	10,977	143
Germany	2,172	9,174	322
Italy	2,431	6,057	149
Japan	3,938	18,386	367
Spain	2,500	5,227	109
UK	9,889	15,757	59
USA	40,226	70,413	75
Total	67,674	137,999	104
Source: Informa Media Group, October 2002