Broadband TV subscriptions worldwide doubled in one year

Online TV viewership worldwide has gone up recently, the latest study from broadband analyst firm Point Topic has shown.

Number of subscribers who use broadband internet to watch TV online using programmes like Sky Player, BT Vision, BBC iPlayer are estimated to be over 26.3 million in second quarter 2009. Total subscriptions to these IPTV services have grown by 53% from 17.1 millon, 12 months ago, it was stated.

Regions like South America, Eastern and Western Europe reported relatively better growth in IPTV services in the recent years, thanks to the growing popularity of new onine TV services like BBC iPlayer.

John Bosnell, Senior Analyst at Point Topic said that the growth in IPTV worldwide still fell short of expectations and listed out the challenges that exist before the IPTV market.

“There are an entrenched set of suppliers, often fenced with regulatory, even protectionist, hurdles. Add to this the lack of a stand-out USP particularly when compared to cable TV and IPTV is plainly in a tough fight for subscribers.”

To watch TV online, a user needs reliable broadband speeds of minimum 2Mbps which everyone in UK may not get, surely. Other thing which holds significance from viewer’s point of view: whether you stream or download videos online, it is going to gobble much of the usage allowance, especially if you are on a capped service.