New research published today shows that the number of homes with access to DTT will almost quadruple over the next four years, as several European countries stay on course to hit switchover targets. According to European Switchover Strategies, a new report from Informa Telecoms & Media, 44.9 million European homes will have access to DTT signals on their main TV set by 2011. That figure represents 16.6% of European TV households, compared with 4.5% of TV homes - or 12 million homes - that had access to DTT at the end of 2005.

Such has been the rapid growth in some digital terrestrial TV services, pay TV competitors have begun voicing criticism about what they perceive as preferential treatment for DTT. The European Commission has set a switchover target of 2010 and the stronger than anticipated success of digital in several countries, including France, Germany and Sweden, means that many European nations will meet the target.

Switchover completion targets in selected European states

Source: Informa Telecoms & Media

According to the report author Simon Dyson, "DTT coverage in France is expected to reach 70% of the country by the end of 2006 and 85% by the end of 2007, with a target completion date for switchover planned for 2010. Germany's move from analogue to digital is also progressing well. While the country has set a provisional date of 2010, the progress of digital-terrestrial launches means it might happen as soon as the end of 2008."

Sweden, which was one of the first countries to launch a digital terrestrial service and has just under half a million subscribers, is expected to be one of the first to switch off analogue transmissions, in 2008. The UK, with 5.78 million subscribers, is still aiming for analogue switch-off in 2012.

The 120-page report European Switchover Strategies is published by Informa Telecoms & Media, which produces several media business publications, including TV International, Mobile Media and New Media Markets research services. The report is available for purchase from today priced at £495/$743/Euro743.

About European Switchover Strategies

European Switchover Strategies analyses in detail the status of digital TV penetration across all Europe TV platforms (cable, satellite, IPTV), but with special emphasis on the progress of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) including the implementation lessons learned from early adopter countries, the regulatory environment, government support and initiatives, partnership opportunities and deployment data and forecasts. It contains profiles on all the leading markets with an assessment of the progress made and likelihood of meeting their own switch-off dates.

This report allows you to pinpoint precisely which markets are leading the transition to digital and what business models have proved successful. In addition the report analyses the impact of DTT's growth on existing pay TV platforms, providing a valuable insight into their future progress.

For more information or to order your copy please visit www.informamedia.com/esos?src=itmpr

About Informa Telecoms & Media

Informa Telecoms & Media is the leading provider of business intelligence and strategic marketing solutions to global telecoms and media markets.

Driven by constant first-hand contact with the industry our 90 analysts and researchers produce a range of intelligence services including news and analytical products, in-depth market reports and Datasets focused on technology, strategy and content.

Informa Telecoms & Media also organizes more than 125 annual events, attended by more than 70,000 executives. In addition to the GSM>3G World Series, our events cover subjects as diverse as fixed and mobile operator strategy, technology, TV, mobile music and games.

Informa Telecoms & Media is always willing to work with journalists to provide stats, data or comment for articles.

For more information please contact:

Simon Dyson

Senior Analyst, Informa Telecoms & Media

simon.dyson@informa.com

+44 (0) 207 017 4249

www.informamedia.com/?src=itmpr

Kathryn Bushnell

Media relations, Informa Telecoms & Media

kathryn.bushnell@informa.com

+44 (0) 207 017 4852

www.telecoms.com/?src=itmpr