The number of digital TV connections in the Netherlands grew by 1.0 percent during the fourth quarter of 2013 to 6.66 million on 31 December 2013, according to Telecompaper’s quarterly report about the Dutch TV market. The total TV market (including analogue TV subscribers) increased to 7.74 million at the end of 2013 with digital TV being used by 86.1 percent of TV subscribers in the Netherlands. The digital TV subscribers include 3.69 million cable subscribers who also have analogue TV connections.
Cable accounted for over half (55.4%) of digital TV subscribers in Q4, despite losing market share due 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, remained in fifth place.
Cable operator Ziggo is the largest TV provider, both on the total market and digital market, followed by DSL/fibre network operator KPN, cable operator UPC and satellite TV provider CanalDigitaal.
Telecompaper expects the digital TV market to grow by around 5 percent during this year, although growth is slowing down. The consumer TV revenues (including pay-TV channels, VoD) amounted to EUR 395 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, slightly higher than in the preceding quarter. The revenues are expected to continue to grow at 0.5 percent CAGR until 2018.
