IPTV Subscribers to Reach 19.6 Million Worldwide in 2008

IPTV services will reach 19.6 million subscribers worldwide in 2008, according to a new study from Gartner, Inc.

This marks an increase of 64.1 percent as the IPTV industry had 12 million subscribers in 2007, the study shows.

Worldwide IPTV revenue is expected to total $4.5 billion in 2008, a 93.5 percent increase from the $2.3 billion revenue in 2007, Gartner says.

"The biggest change since 2007 is the rapid advent of new entrants making inroads in consumer video consumption and placing greater demands on IPTV operators to innovate," says Gartner research director Elroy Jopling.

Other statistics from the study:

• Western Europe has the most IPTV subscribers and is on track for 8.2 million subscribers in 2008
• Western Europe will grow to 18.8 million subscribers in 2012
• North America has the largest IPTV revenue with expected revenue of $2 billion in 2008 and $8 billion in 2012

"Before 2008, the IPTV operators' emphasis had been to spread their footprint and effectively provide a "me too" solution to cable and satellite," says Jopling.

"In the future, especially in the developed markets, we will see an emphasis on innovation and differentiated pay-TV services."

In 2008, 1.1 percent of households worldwide will be IPTV subscribers. By the end of 2012, Gartner forecasts worldwide household penetration of IPTV will reach 2.8 percent.