UK Races Ahead in Digital TV

According to latest research from Strategy Analytics, the UK has stormed ahead in Europe's transition to digital television. Over a third (37%) of UK households had digital TV at the end of last year, compared to a European average of 16.3%. By contrast, only 8.2% of German households could watch digital TV, leaving question marks over the future of the technology in Europe's largest market.

The success of the UK market has been driven by intense competition between operators. It is one of the few countries in the world to have four commercial digital TV access platforms: satellite, cable, terrestrial and DSL.

In Germany, by contrast, a major political battle between new cable investors and free-to-air broadcasters and regulators is looming. Strategy Analytics predicts that this could delay digital rollouts, making Germany one of the European laggards in advanced television services. Scandinavia is the next most successful region for digital television, with penetration rates in Sweden, Denmark and Norway all above 20%.

'We expect the majority of European homes to have digital television by 2006,' notes Nick Griffiths, Senior Analyst with the Strategy Analytics Consumer Practice. 'But analogue switch-off remains a distant prospect for most countries until well into the next decade.'

The research also details the success of competing access technologies. Satellite operators continue to dominate the market, with 70% of viewers, although their share has fallen from 74.7% a year earlier. Cable has increased its share from 18.6% to 22.5%, while terrestrial operators had 7.4% of the market.

A chart illustrating digital television ownership across 16 European markets is available at www.strategyanalytics.com/press/PRDM032.htm

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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