| (COMTEX)     B: STRATEGY ANALYTICS: Digital television in 103m homes this ye B: STRATEGY ANALYTICS: Digital television in 103m homes this year Cable
 operators are gaining ground on satellite
 
 London, England, Jun 13, 2002 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- According to the
 latest forecast from Strategy Analytics' Broadband Entertainment Strategies
 service, digital television is set to break the 100 million home barrier this
 year. In spite of recent problems for digital terrestrial platforms, viewers
 continue to upgrade to digital satellite and cable services in large numbers. By
 2008, Strategy Analytics forecasts 374 million homes around the world will be
 watching digital television.
 
 Satellite-based digital TV is still viewers' preferred choice, but cable
 operators are making up lost ground in spite of more general concerns about the
 state of the cable industry. Cable's share of the digital TV audience will rise
 to 35% this year from 30% in 2001. Strategy Analytics predicsts that the year
 2003 will be the first time that cable TV becomes the world's fastest growing
 digital TV platform: 15.9 million homes will sign up to digital cable, compared
 to 15.4 million for digital satellite.
 
 North America and Western Europe continue to dominate the market, accounting for
 78% of digital TV homes this year. The greatest opportunity, however, lies in
 the Asia-Pacific region, where new digital satellite and cable services are
 launching or being planned. By 2008, Asia-Pacific will account for 28% of the
 world market.
 
 "There is clear evidence that viewers worldwide will continue to switch to
 digital television using cable and satellite platforms," says Nick Griffiths,
 Director, Broadband Entertainment Strategies at Strategy Analytics. "The
 problems faced by digital terrestrial television should not be taken as a sign
 of general industry malaise."
 
 For a chart of Worldwide Digital TV Households, see
 strategyanalytics.com
 
 About Strategy Analytics
 
 Strategy Analytics, Inc., a global research and consulting firm, provides timely
 insights and strategic business solutions to companies operating at the
 convergence of information, communications and entertainment technologies. With
 worldwide headquarters in Newton, MA and principal offices in England, France
 and Germany, Strategy Analytics focuses on market opportunities and challenges
 in the areas of Automotive Electronics, Broadband, Telematics, Wireless
 Strategies and Enabling Technologies. For more information, see
 www.strategyanalytics.com
 
 CONTACT: Nick Griffiths Tel: +44 (0)1582 509811 e-mail:
 ngriffiths@strategyanalytics.com Steffi Karp Tel: +1 617 614 0722 e-mail:
 skarp@strategyanalytics.com
 
 M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2
 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2
 PressWIRE can be obtained at presswire.net on the world wide web.
 Inquiries to info@m2.com.
 
 
 
 (C)1994-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
 
 -0-
 
 
 
 ***  end of story  ***
 |