Irish Market Stats 'RTE Only' shrinks again.

Sponge Bob

January 2010 May 2009 January2010 as a % of Total TV Homes %

Change May 09 – Jan 10

Reception (000s) (000s)

Irish Terrestrial 202 224 12.8% -9.8%
Multi Total 1378 1356 87.2% +1.6%
Multi Terrestrial 150 183 9.5% -18.0%
Cable/Sat Analogue 248 275 15.7% -9.8%
Cable/Sat Digital 980 898 62.0% +9.1%
Total Cable/Sat 1228 1173 77.7% +4.7%
Total TV Homes 1580 1580

NOTES!

RECEPTION: This is determined by the channels the home receives.
Multi Total: Made up of Multi Terrestrial homes plus Cable/Satellite homes and is therefore any home which
receives more than just the four Irish terrestrial channels (RTÉ1, RTÉ2, TV3, TG4).
Irish Terrestrial Homes which only receive the four Irish terrestrial channels (RTÉ1, RTÉ2, TV3, TG4).
Multi Terrestrial: Homes which receive at least one of the UK channels (BBC, UTV, Channel 4, HTV, S4C,
Channel 5), but do not receive any Cable/Satellite channels.
Cable/Satellite: Homes which receive any Cable/Satellite channels (Sky One, Sky News, Sports channels,
MTV, E4, Movie channels, etc.).
Digital: Have digital reception either via dish or cable service.
Source: Nielsen TV Audience Measurement Establishment Survey on behalf of TAM Ireland

Source Page 73 of 88

http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/Comreg1019.pdf

sesswhat

Thanks Sponge Bob.

So as a percentage of the overall market:

- Irish Terrestrial Homes which only receive the four Irish terrestrial channels (RTÉ1, RTÉ2, TV3, TG4) was down 1.4%
- Multi Terrestrial: Homes which receive at least one of the UK channels (BBC, UTV, Channel 4, HTV, S4C, Channel 5), but do not receive any Cable/Satellite channels was down 2.0%

while

- Cable/Satellite: Homes which receive any Cable/Satellite channels (Sky One, Sky News, Sports channels, MTV, E4, Movie channels, etc.) was up 3.4%

Sponge Bob

sesswhat wrote: »

Thanks Sponge Bob.

So as a percentage of the overall market:

- Irish Terrestrial Homes which only receive the four Irish terrestrial channels (RTÉ1, RTÉ2, TV3, TG4) was down 1.4%
- Multi Terrestrial: Homes which receive at least one of the UK channels (BBC, UTV, Channel 4, HTV, S4C, Channel 5), but do not receive any Cable/Satellite channels was down 2.0%

while

- Cable/Satellite: Homes which receive any Cable/Satellite channels (Sky One, Sky News, Sports channels, MTV, E4, Movie channels, etc.) was up 3.4%

As a % of the overall market of 1.58m yes.

The decline in multi terrestrial is probably the clearest example of Freesat penetration and at that rate there will be no overspill viewers in 3 years :eek: ....although it will probably not drop below 100k homes in fairness and may indeed start to pick up post ASO as more channels overspill from NI

The figures are for primary viewing, many Sat/Cable houses have a Terrestrial only telly somewhere but do not use it as their primary viewing platform.

As for the 202k homes that are RTE only I would say that as many homes again have Sky just to get a good picture and that the message for DTT once switched on is that it is 'as clear as the Sky'

Irish Terrestrial 202 224 12.8% -9.8%
Multi Terrestrial 150 183 9.5% -18.0%

bk

So basically the potential market for commercial DTT * is now 12.8% and quickly shrinking, ouch!

Lets be honest, anyone already on UPC or Sky are unlikely to move.

MarkK

bk wrote: »

So basically the potential market for commercial DTT * is now 12.8% and quickly shrinking, ouch!

The market is the number of TV sets rather than homes,
If a DTT subscription is cheaper than Sky multiroom they could still make an impact in the second and third TV market.

Sponge Bob

bk wrote: »

Lets be honest, anyone already on UPC or Sky are unlikely to move.

I always thought ( channel mix dependent) that the Onevision €10 proposal had some economic merit, especially in a recession.

They would be wise to consider that market to be ex Sky with a freesat solution in situ.

If they think they can charge €10 a month primarily to get the freesat channels they are deluded.

They must plan to offer a buckét of channels that are not FTA for the €10, kids/documentaries/uktv/living maybe not all but a repesentative selection of that lot and maybe eurosport and setanta ireland.

and e3

There are only 800000 Pay DTT subscibers in the 4 biggest EU members with a population of over 200m between them ( page 10 of that) and none in the US. LOADS of stats in that link. Here are two charts.



and





Topup tv in the UK charge £13 a month for this lot but have only 200k subscribers. The Irish are prepared to pay more for de TV , historically anyway.

Movies

• TCM
• PictureBox – Premium movies service costing £7 or £5 if taken with TV Favourites

Comedy

• BBC Comedy
• CBS - Programmes from CBS in the comedy genre
• G.O.L.D. – programmes taken from the live stream.
• Warner TV - Programmes from Warner Bros. Television is the comedy genre

Drama

• BBC Drama
• CBS - Programmes from CBS in the drama genre
• Sci Fi Channel
• TV Box - Programming from NBC Universal
• US Drama - Programmes from ABC
• Warner TV - Programmes from Warner Bros. Television in the drama genre

Factual

• BBC Factual
• British Eurosport
• Crime & Investigation
• National Geographic Channel
• History Channel
• Good Food

Kids

• Boomerang
• Cartoon Network
• Disney Channel
• Nickelodeon

MarkK

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Topup tv in the UK charge £13 a month for this lot but have only 200k subscribers. The Irish are prepared to pay more for de TV , historically anyway.

Movies

• TCM
• PictureBox – Premium movies service costing £7 or £5 if taken with TV Favourites

Comedy

• BBC Comedy
• CBS - Programmes from CBS in the comedy genre
• G.O.L.D. – programmes taken from the live stream.
• Warner TV - Programmes from Warner Bros. Television is the comedy genre

Drama

• BBC Drama
• CBS - Programmes from CBS in the drama genre
• Sci Fi Channel
• TV Box - Programming from NBC Universal
• US Drama - Programmes from ABC
• Warner TV - Programmes from Warner Bros. Television in the drama genre

Factual

• BBC Factual
• British Eurosport
• Crime & Investigation
• National Geographic Channel
• History Channel
• Good Food

Kids

• Boomerang
• Cartoon Network
• Disney Channel
• Nickelodeon

Top up TV does not give you all those channels though, it downloads "selected" programmes from those channels to a Hard Disk on your PVR.
The only channels you get are GOLD between 6pm and 11pm and one hour of Home from 10am to 11am.

lawhec

The statistics in the OP is not a huge surprise.

In Britain the amount of people getting subscription television (Sky/Virgin etc.) within the last couple of years has increased, despite recession forecasts predicting decreases - the reasoning going for the increases is that as people are being laid off or do not have as much disposable income, they are putting their money into subscription television services as opposed to spending the same money on socialising, public events (e.g. concerts) and other outdoor events. The subscription TV gives more VFM as people are not going out as much and are staying at home more. It is no surprise to see something similar in the Republic.

Additional figures for "Cable/Satellite Digital" appear to also include Freesat/Sat4Free/FTA set ups.

One thing however that these stats don't appear to show is how many people who have "Cable/Satellite Digital" also have multiroom subscription set ups. In cable areas, I suspect (especially in Dublin) that many subscribers retain analogue only services for additional TV's in bedrooms, kitchens etc. (alongside those who have VCR's & DVD/HD recorders and not PVR's) rather than pay UPC for additional decoders while for Sky those who do not have full multiroom packages are still reliant on terrestrial for reception of RTÉ/TV3/TG4 if the main receiver is already being commanded (additional "unsubbed" Sky receivers, Freesat and FTA receivers can of course be used in other rooms in addition for Free to Air services), therefore even with digital subscription services, many subscribers still have some reliance on current terrestrial broadcasts away from the main television in the household.

Mike 1972

How many of the "Terrestrial" viewers with UK channels are getting them via a deflector rather than via overspill ?

BTW in General how has (direct) reception of Welsh TV in the Southeast been affected by the Switchover ?

Is the number of households which could potentially access terrestrial TV from Wales Increaced, decreaced or remained roughly unchanged and how many aerial upgrades have been necessitated ?

How many of the "RTE (+TV3/TG4 ?) only" households are never going to subscribe to pay TV because they either
1) Cant afford to
2) Are happy enough with the channels they have
3) Actually watch little/no broadcast TV and only own a set for use with DVD players and/or games consoles.

bk

MarkK wrote: »

The market is the number of TV sets rather than homes,
If a DTT subscription is cheaper than Sky multiroom they could still make an impact in the second and third TV market.

Well I certainly hope that they aren't banking on it, it isn't much of a business plan.

Lets assume commercial DTT costs €10 per month

UPC customers current options are:
- Free 17 channel analogue multiroom
- Minimum 40 channel digital multiroom for €8.50 €5

Don't see any UPC customers taking up DTT for a second TV

Sky customers current options are:
- Free magic eye
- Free FTA DTT + FTA Sat (way more channels then pay DTT)
- Digital multiroom €7.50 first year, €15 year two *

* So you might have a small chance in year two, but two things to remember, firstly Sky will normally extend the €7.50 offer for another year if you try to cancel multiroom and second it is a mirror sub, whatever channels you have on the first box you get on mutliroom, which might include hundreds of channels and sports and movies, so can be much better value for money.

So basically I don't see pay DTT having any chance in second TV's. Freeview in the UK does very well on second TV's, but that is because it is free.

Sponge, pay DTT doesn't have room for all those channels, but then if Oneview do actually take up the license, given Eircoms heavy involvement I expect they will bundle it in a triple play package with phone and broadband and deliver extra channels over IPTV and VoD over DSL to the DTT box. Which might make for an interesting option if they can keep the price low enough.

Mike I expect RTE only homes will be very hard to get to sign up to commercial DTT, these are people who have resisted Sky and UPC for years, I don't see any reason way pat DTT would change their minds.

They are people like my parents, who could easily afford pay TV, but just don't watch TV very much and see no point to extra channels. Or people who just can't afford pay tv, even a €10 per month might still be too much for these sort of people.

Sponge Bob

bk wrote: »

Sponge, pay DTT doesn't have room for all those channels, but then if Oneview do actually take up the license, given Eircoms heavy involvement I expect they will bundle it in a triple play package with phone and broadband and deliver extra channels over IPTV and VoD over DSL to the DTT box. Which might make for an interesting option if they can keep the price low enough.

Pay TV will have just about enough room for those channels but only in Standard Def. I was trying to show what a Pay TV operator belives that people will actually PAY for as much as anythinng else. I don't think Pay TV have 3 muxes like an operator will have here.

You also forgot to mention the basic Sky sub is €20 or €22 a month before you tack on multiroom @ €7.50 a month

bk wrote:

UPC customers current options are:
- Free 17 channel analogue multiroom
- Minimum 40 channel digital multiroom for €8.50

And basic cable is €24.75 a month with the 17 channel analogue multiroom ....you said basic cable was €8.50 a month. I think that Pay DTT has no chance against the analogue overspill within the premises in a cable sub home.

My premise is that there is space in the market for a €10 a month package of c.20 well chosen channels ( max) that are not FTA , Pay DTT cannot deliver 40 channels for €25 a month...not enough space.

Post ASO 2 new muxes are available bringing the total to 6. They are 1 x PS mux and 1 x Commercial. The PSB mux post ASO is probably bagged for the BBC MoU ....once we are rid of that waffler Ryan that is.

bk

Sponge Bob wrote: »

And basic cable is €24.75 a month with the 17 channel analogue multiroom ....you said basic cable was €8.50 a month. I think that Pay DTT has no chance against the analogue overspill within the premises in a cable sub home.

First UPC digital is €20 and includes the analogue service.

But more importantly I was responding to MarkK's comment:

If a DTT subscription is cheaper than Sky multiroom they could still make an impact in the second and third TV market.

MarkK here is talking about people keeping UPC/Sky for their primary TV, while using pay DTT for secondary TV's, I believe I have conclusively shown that pay DTT would not be cheaper in this circumstance and that people are very unlikely to do this (never mind the extra complexity of having to deal with yet another bill).

What you are talking about Sponge is people switching all their TV services (including the primary TV) from Sky/UPC fully over to pay DTT.

Now that is a completely different question.

If pay DTT is €10, rather then €20 - €22, then yes, some people might be attracted to the pay DTT offer, but by doing so they definitely get less channels.

You are also assuming that UPC/Sky won't respond to such an offer, with their own cut down 20 channels offer for €10. In particular I'd expect UPC would respond with an attractive cheap triple play product to compete with it. I'd expect Sky would try not to drop prices, but instead emphasize the far more channels sat carries.

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Post ASO 2 new muxes are available bringing the total to 6. They are 1 x PS mux and 1 x Commercial. The PSB mux post ASO is probably bagged for the BBC MoU ....once we are rid of that waffler Ryan that is.

They are going to need that space for HD. Sky and UPC are already really pushing HD and we are really starting to see it take off with lots of new channels. This will be a big problem for any pay DTT service.

Not such a big problem for FTA DTT as free is free.

Sponge Bob

bk wrote: »

But more importantly I was responding to MarkK's comment:
MarkK here is talking about people keeping UPC/Sky for their primary TV, while using pay DTT for secondary TV's, I believe I have conclusively shown that pay DTT would not be cheaper in this circumstance and that people are very unlikely to do this (never mind the extra complexity of having to deal with yet another bill).

I agree, there cn be no substitition effect on secondary viewing positions when multiroom and upc analogue is available

What you are talking about Sponge is people switching all their TV services (including the primary TV) from Sky/UPC fully over to pay DTT.

Now that is a completely different question.

If pay DTT is €10, rather then €20 - €22, then yes, some people might be attracted to the pay DTT offer, but by doing so they definitely get less channels.

Then we agree, the only possible addressable market is the 500k households who are terrestrial only and a certain proportion of the digital housholds who may pay for a topup to their freesats and another group who may downgrade to a minimal €10 sub from their current €20 odd subs with UPC/SKY

You are also assuming that UPC/Sky won't respond to such an offer, with their own cut down 20 channels offer for €10. In particular I'd expect UPC would respond with an attractive cheap triple play product to compete with it. I'd expect Sky would try not to drop prices, but instead emphasize the far more channels sat carries.

That would be true, I have also heard of a €5 'Irish channels only' package being offered to customers who want to leave Sky




They are going to need that space for HD. Sky and UPC are already really pushing HD and we are really starting to see it take off with lots of new channels. This will be a big problem for any pay DTT service.

Not such a big problem for FTA DTT as free is free.[/QUOTE]

bk

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Then we agree, the only possible addressable market is the 500k households who are terrestrial only and a certain proportion of the digital housholds who may pay for a topup to their freesats and another group who may downgrade to a minimal €10 sub from their current €20 odd subs with UPC/SKY

I totally agree, just not sure if it represents much of a market, depends on pricing and how UPC/Sky react.

I think they may react very aggressively, kill it off from the start, given it's shaky business model, rather then leave it get a foothold.

BTW UPC's mirror sub is now down to €5 (or €10 for Digital + HD).

Sam Russell

bk wrote: »

BTW UPC's mirror sub is now down to €5 (or €10 for Digital + HD).

This is a little off topic, but can the UPC cable be received without a STB? In other words, can you get a CAM to take their card?

If so, it would mean second TVs could operate without a STB, which would more them more attractive at €5/month for some.

Less room for DTT PayTV.

Satdog

Mike 1972 wrote: »

How many of the "Terrestrial" viewers with UK channels are getting them via a deflector rather than via overspill ?

BTW in General how has (direct) reception of Welsh TV in the Southeast been affected by the Switchover ?

Is the number of households which could potentially access terrestrial TV from Wales Increaced, decreaced or remained roughly unchanged and how many aerial upgrades have been necessitated ? Another thing I noticed is that a large % had no aerial for Irish DTT so they are either not aware of it or are picking up as a bonus from their Welsh aerial.

How many of the "RTE (+TV3/TG4 ?) only" households are never going to subscribe to pay TV because they either
1) Cant afford to
2) Are happy enough with the channels they have
3) Actually watch little/no broadcast TV and only own a set for use with DVD players and/or games consoles.

Drove to Gorey from Wexford on Saturday via Ballyedmond and Ballycanew ie. not on the N11. There was hardly a contract aerial in sight. Most appear to have upgraded to high gain aerials. Some new builds also had the high gains erected. Another thing I noticed is that a large % had no aerial for Irish DTT so they are either not aware of it or are picking it up as a bonus from their Welsh aerial.

Satdog

Satdog wrote: »

Drove to Gorey from Wexford on Saturday via Ballyedmond and Ballycanew ie. not on the N11. There was hardly a contract aerial in sight. Most appear to have upgraded to high gain aerials. Some new builds also had the high gains erected. Another thing I noticed is that a large % had no aerial for Irish DTT so they are either not aware of it or are picking it up as a bonus from their Welsh aerial.

From what I hear-those people are getting it now on ch 39 since mt leinster started on that clear channel.
Prior to that no irish dtt was receivable on the other channels and still isn't.

mrdtv2010

Satdog wrote: »

Drove to Gorey from Wexford on Saturday via Ballyedmond and Ballycanew ie. not on the N11. There was hardly a contract aerial in sight. Most appear to have upgraded to high gain aerials. Some new builds also had the high gains erected. Another thing I noticed is that a large % had no aerial for Irish DTT so they are either not aware of it or are picking it up as a bonus from their Welsh aerial.

Why am I not surprised? The public are voting with their pocketbooks for an operational service which is a superior replacement to the analogue overspill. That and Black Briar's later post indicates that 42, 45 and 49 will be unusable from Mount Leinster via these antenna systems as they will pull in the Preseli Com muxes which will mutually cancel each other out. Of course E39 is perfectly usable on both sides of the pond and is being used that way. Looks like viewers are making the de facto platform choices.

kuro_man

For any service its got to has a unique selling point - i.e. provide something that no other platform is currently doing.

The only thing I can think of is pay-per-view sporting fixtures (or movies) with/without subscription, perhaps even in HD.

I don't want to want to subscribe to Sky for 12 months, but I might pay for an individual heineken cup match. It could be priced lower for those who already pay the €10/month fee. Obviously, non-subscribers would need a card, but these could be registered for a once-off fee.