3 May 2005
The UK is reportedly ahead of the race to switch-off its analogue TV signal and submit to digital broadcasting.
New research from Informa Telecoms & Media has suggested that digital TV penetration in the UK will have increased to 66 per cent by the end of the year compared to 58 per cent at the end of last year.
In comparison, Sweden, Ireland, Norway and Finland are the only other countries expected to have an end-2005 digital TV penetration rate above 30 per cent.
Informa's TVI Database also forecast that the number of digital homes in the UK will end 2005 at 16.4 million, up from 14.4 million at the end of 2004.
This isn't expected to alter the provisional target date for full analogue switch-off however.
TVI Database senior analyst Simon Dyson said on Indiantelevision.com: "The prospects of an early switch-off of analogue signals in some European countries looks unlikely, given the slower than expected rate of shift to digital.
"Even the UK, which has Europe's highest digital penetration rate, could have some problems with resistance from later adopters."
Compare all digital television suppliers and packages at uSwitch.com and save money now.