As if we didnt already know it, Internet TV will increase in popularity during the next four years according to new research.

Paying subscribers to online tv websites is over 8.5 million in 2009, increasing the market share of Pay TV viewers to 9.5% according to Screen Digest.

In Europe the countries leading the way are in France and Italy. In the UK the services have taken longer to catch on, due to competition from satellite and cable TV providers.

The report looked into internet protocol TV (IPTV) and on demand programming thats supplied from telephone lines straight to your TV.

Ther leading broadcasters in Europe are investing in IPTV to support the declining income from traditional business as the online tv route is being seen by many as the future.

Competitively priced triple-play offers that includes true video-on-demand will prove a winning formula
David Schmitt, Screen Digest

Screen Digest’s research has suggested that IPTV will present stiff competition to already established cable and satellite providers who themselves are starting to invest big in this market.

IPTV also known as Internet Protocol Television delivers TV content to viewers by way of broadband connection using Internet protocols. Requiring a subscription and a set top box. The advantages over existing TV cable and satellite technologies is that IPTV is usually bundled with other services such as Video on Demand (VOD), voice over IP (VOIP) generally known as Triple Play.

Due to IPTV arriving over the telephone lines, telephone companies are in a good position to offer IPTV to existing customers.

IPTV is and will continue to be strong in France, Italy and Spain. Here the suppliers have approx 16% and 20% share of the pay TV market.

Homechoice is currently the leading UK based supplier of IPTV services but will be joined next year by British Telecom and other broadband suppliers.

Around 7.5% of UK pay TV users will be viewing IPTV within four years, the Screen Digest revealed.

Report compiler David Schmitt said:- ‘Although some technical and content issues have yet to be resolved, the combination of compelling, competitively priced triple-play offers that include true video-on-demand will prove a winning formula. Many traditional pay television providers are finding that they too must adopt IPTV technologies in order to remain competitive.’

Whatever else this report tells us, is that internet tv is the present and will increasingly be the future.

worldtvpc.com

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