Looming Analog Switch-off Dates Are Forcing TV Broadcasters to 'Think Digital' Digital Terrestrial and Broadcasting Technologies NEW YORK - January 24, 2007 Contact: Christine Gallen Contact PR www.abiresearch.com With Digital Terrestrial Television subscriber numbers set to expand from less than 36 million in 2006 to 89 million in 2012 and broadcasters preparing for digital switch-over, the market dynamics of local and regional over-the-air video transmission is quickly changing. The result will be growth in consumer equipment and core-network markets for digital-video equipment. Broadcasters stand to benefit in several ways, according to ABI Research's principal broadband analyst, Michael Arden. "Not only does digital broadcasting allow them to do targeted local advertising more easily, it also allows them, using their existing spectrum license and allocation, to add extra sub-channels, which could contain specialty content or HDTV programming." Digital broadcasting offers real business advantages, says Arden. The ability to create localized content (news, sports, etc.) on a limited budget and to resell it to cable companies and others is quite significant. Digital terrestrial television (DTT) provides a terrestrial-transmitter-based over-the-air video service and will be used in some markets to supplement Telco TV. Already gaining traction in Western Europe, DTT provides both free and subscription services while offering low-cost customer-premises equipment. The uptake of DTT will coincide with digital switchover, although there are several DTT formats in use around the world, and political/economic as well as technological considerations enter into the decision-making process in various countries. DTT will emerge as a tool for providing video to underserved markets and to supplement other services. A new ABI Research study, "Digital Terrestrial and Broadcasting Technologies: The Role of Digital Video in Over-the-Air TV Services" provides an overview of the business model for the development of DTT and local broadcasting services. It discusses the impact of government-imposed digital switch-over on access to free television content, and explores how operators will turn digital terrestrial into a money-making venture, and how they will partner with telecom and mobile operators. The report is a key part of ABI Research's comprehensive market analysis of today's video technologies and markets. It forms part of the company's Multi-Channel Video Research Service, which also includes other Research Reports, Research Briefs, Market Data, Online Databases, the ABI Vendor Matrix, ABI Insights, and analyst inquiry support. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations supporting annual research programs, intelligence services and market reports in broadband and multimedia, RFID & contactless, M2M, wireless connectivity, mobile wireless, transportation, and emerging technologies. For information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

Schedule an interview with the analyst on this topic

• Site Map
• ABI Services
• Wireless IQ
• Telematics IQ
• Broadband IQ
• GreenTech IQ
• Email Us
• Privacy Policy

©2010 Allied Business Intelligence, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This document is protected by US and International Copyright Law. No part of this document may be republished or entered into an information storage / retrieval system or database of any kind without the expressed written permission of ABI Research.