Australia - Broadcasting & Pay TV - Overview & Analysis - 2007

Synopsis

This report reveals that FTA television industry is now facing challenges from a number of fronts as incumbent broadcasters cling to their lucrative oligopolies. Marketing and media buyers are increasingly turning to alternative media, such as through Internet and mobile channels in order to reach consumers. Digital FTA TV has been held up in a vicious cycle since its launch. Available digital content, beyond simply offering better picture qualities, has been nowhere near sufficient to help drive digital TV. The main driver of growth has been ‘user experience’ delivered by DVDs and plasma screens. By early 2007 with the vast majority of subscribers on digital services, pay TV penetration had only reached just over 25% and we expect penetration to reach only 26% in 2007. An overall pay TV revenue growth of 15% was recorded in 2006 and we expect growth to remain reasonably strong in 2007, while not increasing. A launch date for digital radio of 2009 is scheduled for Australia.