Cable growing faster than satellite, says IHS Screen Digest

Cable is growing revenue faster than satellite competiton, according to IHS Screen Digest.

Looking at the triple-play bundle taken together, cable’s success in marketing telecom and internet services, which now accounts for the majority of cable revenue in 10 EU markets, has led it to outpacing satellite TV companies in terms of overall revenue growth, IHS Screen Digest TV research director Guy Bisson told Cable Congress attendees this morning.

Growth over the last five years has come from eastern Europe and some western European markets such the Benelux countries, said Bisson. Over the next five years, Germany will continue to grow strongly and eastern European growth will accelerate. The Nordic countries are expected to grow strongly, with others including the Benelux turning in moderate growth.

Growth will come from digitisation, said Bisson. Digital penetration across the EU 27 countries is growing and will give cable ongoing growth even if it does nothing else, he said. However, this growth will be accelerated by converting more single-play customers into telecom and internet customers as well as TV subscribers.

Bisson said cable operators also had the opportunity to embrace new lines of business, including CDN services and delivery of services from the cloud to devices outside the home.