Boxer subscriptions fall slightly due to tough competition in the mature Swedish digital TV market

On 31 December 2008, Boxer had 689,000 digital TV subscriptions. During the course of the year, the Swedish digital TV market has matured and competition between Pay-TV operators has intensified. The number of subscriptions fell by just under three percent during the year, from 709,000 at the beginning of the year.

“The Swedish TV market has matured, and at the same time the range of Pay-TV services that are available has increased; IPTV in particular has established itself as a very strong TV platform,” says Per Norman, Managing Director of Boxer.

“Nevertheless, we have noticed an interest in further service purchases, such as extra cards in order to receive subscriptions on more TVs and there is a growing interest in recordable boxes (PVR). In future, growth will take place through the sale of more services to existing customers, as well as through overseas expansion,” says Per Norman.

On 27 March, Boxer was appointed Pay-TV operator for the impending Danish digital terrestrial network, while on 28 July Boxer received a corresponding licence to be the Pay-TV operator in the forthcoming Irish digital TV network. Operations in Denmark are planned to get underway on 1 February 2009, while operations in Ireland will commence later in the year.