HDTV in Europe
Ready for take-off?
◊HD media chain
Production
Publication
Networks
Devices
Pay-TV
Free to air TV
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Consulting & Research
Deployment levels in Europe
Lessons to be learned from HDTV rollouts
in the US and Japan
Choosing between networks: satellite, terrestrial,
cable, IPTV, Internet
HDTV offer strategies
HD programme availability
Uncertainties surrounding HD devices
Growth outlook for HDTV in Europe
Europe’s HDTV market is in its early days: although estimates point to 10 million households equipped with an HD-ready
TV by the end of 2006, only a fraction of them will actually be consuming HDTV services.
Nevertheless, the high-definition TV transition is both well underway and irreversible, with clear strides having been made
over the past two years:
• The base of HD-ready TV sets is growing.
• Although later than planned, HD services have been launched in several European countries.
• The different distribution networks have become HD-compatible.
• Technical production and broadcasting chains are largely HD-ready.
But major obstacles do still exist which are hampering the take-up rate:
• Some consumers have trouble understanding the benefits of high definition.
• The HD business model is still fuzzy for general interest channels.
• HD programme production is being blocked by the chicken or the egg dilemma that is weighing on the
industry as a whole.
At a time when growth is being fuelled by pay-TV services, the introduction of HD-DVD players later this year could give
the market a boost, as could HD versions of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and of the European football
championships. Added to this, the launch of a free to air HDTV service could provided the much-needed breakthrough to
increase viewers’ exposure to high definition services.
◊Overview
DigiWorld
HDTV in Europe
Key questions
What lessons can be learned from HDTV deployments in the US and Japan?
HDTV in Europe: on which network?
How to encourage an expansion of HD content?
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