6.9 Million Subscribers to Audio-visual Programme Retransmission Services in Romania

4.05.2015

In 2014, the total number of subscribers to audio-visual programme retransmission services provided on commercial basis increased by 5.9%, up to 6.9 million, compared to 6.5 million - at the end of 2013. Therefore, the penetration rate at the household level reached 92%, according to the data the providers reported to ANCOM.

Most of the subscribers to retransmission services continue to receive TV programmes by means of cable networks. There were 4.38 million such subscribers at the end of 2014 (+6.3% compared to 2013), while 2.46 million subscribers received TV programmes via DTH satellite networks (+4.7% compared to 2013), whereas 68 thousand subscribers received these programmes through IP technology (+22.1% compared to 2013).

At the end of 2014, 60% of all the subscribers lived in urban areas, most of these - 80% - using cable subscriptions. In rural areas, most of the subscribers, i.e. 61%, receive TV programmes by means of DTH satellite networks.

As regards the reception format of TV programmes, the number of subscribers to programme retransmission in digital format keeps growing in 2014, up to 4.23 million - out of the total subscriber number, i.e. 6.9 million - (by 9% more compared to 2013). Among these, 58% receive TV programmes in digital format via satellite (DTH) networks, while 40% receive such programmes by means of cable networks, and 2% - through the IP technology (IPTV).

Out of the 4.38 million subscribers to retransmission services provided over cable networks, 1.7 million benefitted from digital services (by 15% more compared to 2013), the penetration rate of such services at the household level reaching thus 23%.

Further information will be available in the statistical data report, drawn up by ANCOM based on the data reported by the electronic communications providers who had commercial activity in the second half of 2014.