UK To Top European DTT Charts By 2009

According to a new report from Juniper Research, the UK is set to remain the country with the highest level of digital terrestrial television (DTT) penetration, topping 90% by 2009, followed closely by other EU countries such as; Finland at 85%, Italy with 83% and Spain with 77% penetration.

DTT penetration is expected to reach nearly 55 million homes in the European Union by 2009, representing 55% of all digital households.

As well as existing EU members driving growth, the ten new member states are expected to contribute 5 million DTT households alone by the end of the decade, despite not yet having launched DTT.

Report author, Dr Windsor Holden said: “Generally speaking, DTT growth will be strongest in markets with only a limited number of free-to-air services. However, given the strength of existing pay TV services in the majority of countries, pay DTT alternatives will find it extremely difficult to compete given the comparatively small number of services they would be permitted to offer.”

In the report, Dr Holden expressed his concern about the implementation of proposals made by the Broadcasting Policy Group in Beyond the Charter, he said: “Quite clearly, the success of digital terrestrial television in the UK is due to the availability of a significant number of additional free-to-air services, most of which – such as BBC4 and CBeebies – are provided by the BBC. Were any future government to adopt the subscription model recommended in Beyond the Charter, then it is likely that take-up of digital services would decline markedly.”

Juniper Research: www.juniperresearch.com

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