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By 31 March 2004 digital TV penetration was estimated to have reached 53% of UK households, up from 50% at 31 December 2003.

In addition a further 4% of households were subscribing to analogue cable, bringing the total receiving some form of multi-channel television to almost 57%. Within these total figures, the key developments were:

1. The total number of digital television households grew by 710,000 over the quarter increasing digital penetration by 2.8%.
2. Sky's subscriber numbers increased, reaching 6,956,000 in the UK at the end of Q1 2004.
3. Freeview (Digital Terrestrial Television) also saw an increase, with household numbers estimated to have grown to around 3,468,000 in the same period.
4. Latest estimates suggest there are also around 231,000 free-to-view digital satellite homes. This figure includes viewers who are no longer Sky subscribers but still receive the public service channels through their set-top box. Also included in this figure are the "Solus" viewers who are able to receive the public service channels through this scheme.
5. In total there are now around 3.7 million free to air digital households. (Freeview (DTT) plus free to view satellite).
6. The total number of subscribers to cable television is estimated to have increased slightly to around 3.3 million, of which digital cable now accounts for around 2.4 million.
7. An adjustment has been made to account for the number of households which have digital on more than one set. Ofcom estimates that 15% of sales of Freeview adapters in the last quarter were bought for use on second sets by people who already have digital (either Freeview, Sky or cable) on their main set. Sky and cable subscriber figures already account for multi set users.

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