[opendtv] News: BSkyB loses market share in UK digital sector
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 11:14:44 -0400
BSkyB loses market share in UK digital sector
September 20, 2004 12:00am
Source: Irish Independent. Source: Financial=20
Times Information Limited - Europe Intelligence=20
Wire.
IRISH INDEPENDENT: RUPERT Murdoch's BSkyB lost=20
market share in the British digital television=20
sector in the second quarter, as Freeview, a=20
service with no subscription fee, continued its=20
rapid growth against pay-TV satellite and cable=20
providers.
=46reeview, which launched in October 2002, is a=20
joint venture between BSkyB, the BBC and US-based=20
transmitter operator Crown Castle.
Though BSkyB remains the dominant digital TV=20
provider, its share fell to 53.5pc from 55pc,=20
according to quarterly figures released by=20
British media regulator Ofcom yesterday.
The number of Freeview households rose by 12pc=20
from the previous quarter to 4.4 million, or 28pc=20
of the market, far more than cable's 2.5pc gain=20
and Sky's 1.1pc increase.
BSkyB, which also operates a digital service in=20
Ireland where it has about 320,000 subscribers,=20
has announced plans for a rival service to=20
=46reeview that it hopes will provide a=20
subscription-free starter platform that=20
eventually will lead customers to start paying=20
for more channels and enhanced services.
=46reeview, which provides some 50 digital TV and=20
radio channels, requires a set-top box that costs=20
about GBP50 at retail outlets.
Sky's subscription-free service will offer nearly=20
200 radio and TV channels with a box that costs=20
three times as much and that will be available=20
only from Sky.
Cable providers NTL - which also operates in=20
Ireland - and Telewest combined to reach nearly=20
2.5m homes during the second quarter,=20
representing about 18pc of the existing digital=20
TV market.
Meanwhile, Mr Murdoch received a bonus of $12.5m=20
for year-end 2004, compared to a bonus of $7.5m=20
for the previous financial year.
News Corporation said in its annual report at end=20
2004 that he received a total pay package of=20
$17.1m for the year ended June 2004, including a=20
salary of $4.5m, besides bonuses and other=20
compensations.
The ceo's net pay package for the full year 2004=20
increased by 42pc from last year's remuneration.
Ailish O'Hora .end (paragraph)<<IRISH INDEPENDENT -- 09/18/04>>
<< Copyright =A92004 Irish Independent. Source:=20
=46inancial Times Information Limited - Europe=20
Intelligence Wire. >>
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