Revenues generated from digital television electronic programme guides (EPGs), particularly as they develop into interactive programme guides (IPGs), could rise from the current $500 million to $1.7 billion worldwide by 2007, according to a report from In-Stat/MDR.
“With on demand technology becoming important [see
INSIGHTanalysis: Video On-Demand Remains On Hold], EPGs must be able to add new sources of program information,” says Gerry Kaufhold, principal analyst at In-Stat.
“The new generation of EPGs – IPGs – will help consumers find all of their multimedia content, whether it comes from a broadcast channel, an on demand service, their personal video recorder, or even music, photo image files, or video clips from their PC,” says Kaufhold.
In-Stat predicts that North America’s digital cable TV systems will be worth $500 million and account for 67% of the value of the EPG/IPG market there by 2007.
In Europe, digital satellite services will be the market driver, with the EPG/IPG sector topping $450 million in 2007. Asia will top $340 million by the same time, according to the report.
