| |
PCCW
to launch high-definition IPTV broadcasts in August
Other Topics: IPTV
Subscriptions Growth, IPTV DRM
solution
telco
August 2, 2007
Hong Kong telco PCCW has revealed that it plans to launch the first
high-definition broadcasts for its “now TV” IPTV service on August
11.
High-definition content offered will include live sporting events
such as the Barclays Premier League and lifestyle programming from
VOOM. PCCW will add additional high-definition content later in
2007, such as 38 Italian Serie a matches, 31 UEFA Euro games, and
the Stanley Cup Playoffs. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Berriman, CTO of
PCCW, commented: “One third of Premier League soccer matches that
will be available to us will be in HD. Having won the contract for
three years of the Premier League we expect that it will have a
significant impact on ARPU and that it will bring over a significant
number of customers.”
Users of the HD service must purchase a new set-top box, priced at
around $67, as well pay an HD box rental fee of about $4.86 a month
and another $8.69 a month for the HD Sports package. Berriman
revealed that PCCW has been developing high-definition broadcasts
for two years, and is trying to boost HD penetration by offering
low-cost TV screens as part of its service packages.
PCCW’s now TV service is currently the world’s largest IPTV service
with 758,000 subscribers as of the end of 2006, compared to 147,000
at the end of 2003. ARPU has grown from $7.28 a month to $17.89
during the same period. Revenue from TV and content has grown 71%
year on year since launch in 2003 to reach $95mn in 2006. |
|
Back to Pressroom |
|
