The number of digital TV connections in the Netherlands grew by 1.0 percent during the third quarter of this year to end September with 6.61 million lines, according to Telecompaper’s quarterly report on the Dutch TV market. At the same time, the digital TV penetration increased to 85.3 percent including 3.69 million cable subscribers who also have analogue TV connections.
The most used technology for digital TV services is still cable with 55.8 percent despite losing market share to the growing adoption of IPTV services over DSL and FTTH networks. DSL was the second most common way to receive TV, followed by satellite and terrestrial, which are both losing market share. FTTH, while growing its market share, remains in fifth place. Ziggo was the largest TV provider at the end of the third quarter, both in the total TV market and the digital TV market. KPN, UPC and CanalDigitaal followed in the rankings.
For 2013, Telecompaper expects the total TV market to grow by 0.2 percent driven by a 5 percent growth in digital TV lines to 6.69 million at the end of the year. The digital TV growth is hampered by a slowing growth for cable, which is compensated by increased growth for TV via DSL and FTTH networks. Telecompaper estimates the retail revenues for the consumer TV market totaled EUR 394 million in the third quarter, little changed compared to the second quarter of the year.
