Ofcom: Number of TV homes continues to fall
There have been no significant changes in the coverage of traditional broadcast terrestrial, satellite and cable networks over the past year according to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Report (previously called the Infrastructure Report) which charts the UK’s evolving communications infrastructure, and our progress towards becoming genuinely connected nations.
However, the ways in which TV is consumed and delivered continues to evolve, in particular TV and video delivery over broadband networks:
Linear TV consumption remains strong: The way in which we watch TV is continuing to evolve, with more viewing over the internet, but linear broadcast TV remains overwhelmingly most important way of watching TV.
TV and video delivery is placing increased capacity demands on fixed and mobile broadband networks: Growth in internet-delivered TV is having major implications for providers of fixed and mobile communications infrastructure. Video carried over fixed and mobile networks is growing rapidly, and networks need to invest in providing more capacity for it.
More hybrid TV platforms are becoming available: Traditional broadcast TV platforms are becoming more integrated with the internet. In particular, pay-TV providers are connecting more of their customers to internet-delivered TV, and the free-to-air Freeview platform has launched hybrid Freeview Play services.
Viewers are able to view TV from a growing range of sources
Satellite: TV services over satellite are available through Sky’s pay-TV service or through Freesat, which is available for a one-off digital receiver cost.
Cable: Virgin Media makes TV available over its cable network and has set the target to increase the coverage of its cable network. Once implemented this is expected to increase cable TV coverage from 45 per cent to around 65 per cent of UK premises.
Freeview: The DTT service provides access to a wide range of free-to-air channels. IPTV: A number of different providers including Now TV, BT and TalkTalk deliver linear broadband TV services. On-demand content is available to anyone connected to the internet, from a wide variety of providers.
The way in which consumers watch TV is evolving
The growing use of new broadcast technologies is changing the way in which consumers watch TV. More content is being viewed over the Internet than ever before, but most viewing continues to be to linear broadcast TV. More viewers have sets capable of viewing HD content, although actual viewing of HD has not grown in proportion to the capability to view it. …
… read on at advanced-television.com
Originally posted at Advanced Television
1st December 2015