European DTT growth rates forecast to slow

The number of TV homes globally that use DTT as their primary service was 126 million at end-2011, a 22% year-on-year increase, according to Informa Telecoms & Media. The majority of those primary DTT homes, 74.5 million, were in Europe although Asia Pacific will become the largest DTT region over the next five years, driven by growth in China according to Informa.

Informa forecasts that DTT penetration in western Europe will peak at 39% this year and fall slowly thereafter. Spain, Italy and Greece will lead in penetration terms, but each is expected to record an overall decline in DTT penetration by end-2016.

Pay DTT in western Europe will increase steadily, albeit from a modest base. At end 2011 there were 7.1 million pay DTT homes across the continent and that will increase to 11.8 million by end-2016. Globally, there will be 15.1 million pay DTT homes by end-2016, representing 1% of global TV households.