By the end of the year, the number of IPTV subscribers worldwide will climb to 18.6 million, up 8 million from a year earlier, according to a new report from Informa Telecoms & Media.
Additionally, the report, “IPTV: A Global Analysis - 4th Edition,” predicts that number will climb to 57 million homes by 2013, or triple this year’s number. However, while the growth appears impressive, the 2013 total will represent just 4 percent of all TV households across the planet, and only 14 countries will have more than 1 million IPTV subscribers by then, according to the report.
One of the main reasons for the limited growth is the fact that IPTV operators must peel customers away from long-established cable and direct-to-home satellite households, said report author Simon Murray. Another is the impact digital terrestrial television is having. Despite these factors, IPTV is gaining ground even in competitive markets, he added.
In 2008, the Asia Pacific region and Western Europe will each account for nearly 3 million additional IPTV subscribers, and North America will add 1.7 million. However, the global figure for this year represents only 2 percent of TV households.
The Asia Pacific region is expected to be a hotbed of future growth and will become the largest region for IPTV by 2010. By 2013, Asia Pacific will contribute 22.2 million of the 57.0 million global total. China alone will have crossed the 10 million mark. According to the report, the United States won't be too far behind China.
For more information, visit http://informamedia.msgfocus.com/c/1iUsIm5ky322GQ2xB.
