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30|03|05

Digital television UK household penetration reaches just under 60%

Ofcom today publishes its Digital Television Update for the fourth quarter of 2004. The report examines the latest data provided by the main digital television platform providers.

The update shows that by 31 December 2004 a total of 59.4% of UK households received digital television; an increase of 3.5% points from 55.9% at 30 September 2004.

Key trends include:

• By 31 December 2004, the total number of digital television households grew by 914,980 to 14,773,881, representing growth over the quarter of 6.6%.

• BSkyB added 177,000 subscribers bringing its total number of UK subscribers to 7,262,000 at the end of Q4 2004. [Source: BSkyB results, Q4 2004]

• The number of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) only households at the end of December 2004 is estimated to be around 4,592,920. This is an increase of 678,000, from 3,914,920 at the end of September 2004. [Source: Freeview Q4 2004 sales figures, GfK market research, Ofcom market estimates]

• There are now almost 5 million free-to-view digital households. This figure consists of Freeview viewers plus free-to-view digital satellite homes. The total number of homes using the latter is estimated at around 385,000 including viewers who are no longer Sky subscribers but still receive the public service channels through their set-top box, as well as “Solus” viewers. [Source: Ofcom market estimates]

• The total number of subscribers to cable television remained around 3.3 million.

Digital cable accounts for just over 2.5 million of the total number of UK digital households (17% of digital homes), with 11,500 additions in Q4 2004. [Source: ntl and Telewest Broadband Q4 results]

• 3.2% of households continued to subscribe to analogue cable during the fourth quarter, bringing the total proportion of households receiving some form of multi-channel television to just over 63.0%. [Source: ntl and Telewest Broadband Q4 results]

• An adjustment has been made to account for the number of households which have more than one television receiving digital broadcasts. Latest estimates suggest that 25% of sales of Freeview set-top boxes in the last quarter of 2004 were bought for use with second televisions by households which already receive digital broadcasts (either Freeview, BSkyB or cable) on their main television. Data supplied by BSkyB and cable operators already include multi-set households within their subscriber figures.

For the full Ofcom Digital Television Update – Q4 2004, please see the link in Related Items.

Ends.

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS AND CSEs

Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

For further details please visit www.ofcom.org.uk.

CONTACT

Ofcom Media Office

mediaoffice@ofcom.org.uk

(+44) (0)20 7981 3033

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