”The number of subscribers to services of audio-visual programme retransmission in Romania grew from 5.24 million, at the end of 2007, to 5.58 million, at the end of June 2008. Almost 2 million of these subscribers use DTH satellite networks”, the ANC President, Mr. Liviu Nistoran, declared during the 13^th edition of the Cable Communications Convention.

The preliminary data collected from the providers of audio-visual programme retransmission show that, in June 2008, 5 of the 543 active providers offered this service via satellite networks and one via the IP technology, the others being cable television providers. The decrease of the number of providers to 543 – by approximately 100, as compared to mid-2006 -, indicates the ongoing strengthening of the market.

The household penetration rate of audio-visual programme retransmission services was 76% on June 30, 2008, by 14% higher that the same period of 2007. The penetration rate of retransmission services via satellite doubled – from 13.2% in June 2007 to 27% in June 2008. The penetration rate of retransmission services via cable varies, in the general downward trend starting in 2007, given the commercial launch of DTH solutions, which either came as an alternative to cable television, or compensated the lack of such services in certain rural areas deprived of cable networks.

The household penetration rate of audio-visual programme retransmission via cable networks reached 70% in the urban area, at the end of June 2008, whereas only 24.6% of the rural households received cable television programmes. Actually, the subscriber structure by place of residence featured 77% in the urban area and 23% in the rural area.

On June 30, 2008, approximately 2.11 million subscribers received digital audio-visual programmes, most of which – 1.97 million - via DTH networks.

 ”Notwithstanding the definitely increasing pressure of the satellite communications systems, the cable industry continues the modernisation of their services in view of preserving their customer base. Nonetheless, there are cable providers that also provide services via DTH, proving their openness for the new technologies and business solutions and their commitment to the goal of extending the existing customer base, irrespective of the technologies used”, Mr. Nistoran added.

The revenues from the provision of audio-visual programme retransmission services on the retail market increased by 20%, from RON 1.02 billion in 2006, to RON 1.22 billion in 2007, with an actual growth of 14.7%, calculated based on the annual consumption price index communicated by INS for 2007.