Advanced Television

DTT boom extends beyond Europe

July 24, 2013

The number of homes receiving DTT signals will more than double between 2013 and 2018 – by reaching 553 million, according to a new report from Digital TV Research. The Digital Terrestrial TV Forecasts report, covering 97 countries, expects the number of primary DTT homes (those not subscribing to cable, IPTV or satellite TV and using DTT on their main set) will also double over the same period – to 380 million in 2018.

Digital TV Research suggests that 173 million homes (31 per cent of the DTT total) will only watch DTT signals on secondary sets (in the bedroom or the kitchen, for example) by 2018; up from 64 million (30 per cent of the DTT total) at end-2012.

More than a third of the world’s TV households will receive DTT signals by 2018; up from only 15 per cent at end-2012. From this total, nearly a quarter will be primary DTT homes by 2018; up from a tenth in 2012.

Western Europe accounted for more than 40 per cent the global total at end-2012. However, the region will rapidly lose market share – contributing only 19 per cent of the total by 2018 – despite its total DTT household figure increasing by 20 per cent to 105 million. More than half the TV households in Western Europe receive DTT signals.

Western Europe will mainly lose market share to the Asia Pacific region, which will increase from 28 per cent of the global total in 2012 to 43 per cent by 2018 – or from 58 million DTT homes to 240 million. Penetration of TV households will increase from 7 per cent in 2012 to 27 per cent by 2018.

Despite its low DTT penetration, the US hung on to the top slot in 2012 as the largest country by DTT households. However, the top rankings will change a lot over the next five years. China will add a “staggering” 132 million DTT homes by 2018 to become the largest DTT country by a considerable distance. Brazil will add 30 million to take second place, with Russia adding 19 million. India, the remaining BRIC country, will have 15 million DTT homes by 2018 from none at end-2012.

DVB-T is by far the most popular DTT standard at present; taken by 130 million homes at end-2012. This total is expected to double to 266 million by 2018. However, the China-backed DMB-T standard will rocket from 22 million homes at end-2012 to 154 million by 2018, mainly resulting from domestic market growth.

 

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