United Kingdom - Digital Media - Statistics and Analyses

Synopsis

The UK remains at the forefront of media convergence in Europe. The country’s comprehensive DSL and extensive cable network are being continually upgraded to provide an improved delivery platform for converged and bundled offerings, while additional investment in FttP and FttC is providing a network capability to ensure customers’ ability to use future high-end services. The digital broadcasting industry, including satellite, digital cable, digital terrestrial and IPTV services, is well established – the UK has the highest level of digital TV penetration in Europe, with a substantial multichannel environment. This report examines the UK’s markets for bundled and convergent services, including developments in Video-on-Demand, IPTV and VoIP. It also assesses the country’s broadcasting markets, providing statistics and analysis on the closing analogue free-to-air environment and the pay TV and cable sectors.

Key developments:

• Digital UK argues for more spectrum allocation for DTTV use
• Sky launches cross-platform Now TV service
• 21st Century Fox makes renewed bid for Sky
• Liberty Global acquires Virgin Media, sets in train £3 billion investment program
• report update includes the regulator’s 2016 market updates, telcos’ financial and operating data to Q3 2016, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

British Telecom, Virgin Media, Sky, Freeview, BBC, Tiscali.