Latin American TV reaps the digital dividend

A new research report from Informa Telecoms & Media shows that digital TV will make major inroads in Latin America over the next five years. Digital TV households will more than treble in that time – from 5.9 million at present to 22.8 million by 2012. The 11th edition of Informa’s Americas TV report discovered that while Brazil and Mexico now combine to account for more 66% of the region’s digital subscribers, this will drop to 55% in 2012 – as other countries see their services start to be successful.

Adam Thomas, author of the report, said: “The outlook for the Latin American broadcast sector is better now than it has been for many years. Macroeconomic factors are generally upbeat while companies such as Telmex and Telefonica are ramping up their investment in the broadcast sector. All of this is having a positive impact on pretty much all of the TV platforms.”

Digital TV households (000)

Note: All figures refer to year-end.

Source: Informa Telecoms & Media

According to Thomas: “Deregulation in the telco sector has encouraged cable operators to up their game via network improvements. The result is that cable is much better positioned to compete in terms of content and functionality. Consolidation in the satellite sector has also started to pay off and the renewed confidence in DTH was demonstrated by Telefonica’s decision to launch a new platform.”

Looking at the Americas as a whole, the US is, as would be expected, the dominant force. In 2006 it had 67.6 million digital subscribers – 85% of the pan-continental total. By 2012 this proportion is expected to fall to 77%. The 260-page report Americas TV (11th Edition) is published by Informa Telecoms & Media. It analyses the region’s 12 leading markets – including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Puerto Rico as well as the US and Canada. Informa produces several media business publications, including Television Business International, New Media Markets and TV International.

About Americas TV (11th edition)

Americas (11th edition) looks at present market trends, and evaluates the future direction the market is taking. It includes important illustrative statistics and reliable forecasts to 2012.

Detailed information on TV developments across 12 countries including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, the US and Canada allows you to pinpoint new opportunities and highlight territories ripe for investment. It also provides you with an in-depth profile of the increasingly important US Hispanic TV market. With numerous recent launches, and others pending, of new platforms, the report provides a valuable insight into their chances of success.

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