On-Demand Services Proliferate in Europe

STRASBOURG: New data released by the European Audiovisual Observatory shows that the number of on-demand services operating in Europe continues to grow, reaching 696 by the end of 2008, led by the U.K. with 145.

The report, Video on Demand and Catch-Up Television in Europe, was compiled by the European Audiovisual Observatory and France’s Direction du développement des médias (France). It identifies 696 services from 366 providers, with 145 in the U.K., 106 in France and 93 in Italy. Other key markets for on-demand rollouts include Germany with 55, the Netherlands with 44, Belgium with 33, Spain with 25 and Sweden with 22. Of the total number of services available, 394 (56.6 percent) are Internet-based platforms, 207 (30 percent) are IPTV via a DSL network, 49 (7 percent) are via cable platforms, and 19 (2.7 percent) are via satellite platforms. The remaining 25 (3.6 percent) are delivered through DTT on the Top Up TV platform in the U.K.