At the end of the 3rd quarter of 2012 (3Q2012) the total number of subscribers to the subscription television (TV) service stood at about 3.11 million1, 27 thousand subscribers more than in the previous quarter, which is an increase of 0.9 percent. Compared with the same period in 2011 there is an 8.4 percent increase, i.e. an extra 241 thousand subscribers. This trend is compatible with the recent historical trend of these variables.
Offers supported by optical fibre accounted for most of the service's net growth in this quarter, with about 74 percent of the new customers. Television service offers supported by the public telephone network (xDSL) and direct to home (DTH) technology contributed 20 percent and 6 percent of new customers, respectively. The number of subscribers to the cable TV service fell 0.8 percent in this period.
Analysing the distribution of subscribers by type of television service, at the end of 3Q2012 the cable TV service represented 46.9 percent of total subscribers, DTH comprised 21.6 percent, xDSL comprised 19.5 percent, and optical fibre (FTTH/B) stood for 11.9 percent.
About 72.2 percent of subscription TV subscribers used this service as a part of a package of services. The most popular offer consisted of TV, fixed Internet, and fixed telephone, with 55.9 percent.
The ZON/TV Cabo Group continues to have the largest share of subscription TV subscribers, with 50.6 percent2. PT Comunicações (PTC) and Cabovisão follow with shares of 38.6 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively.
At the end of 3Q2012 about half of the households with subscription TV had over 80 channels, and about 22.1 percent had access to premium channels.
It should be noted that the statistical indicators presented for this quarter (3Q2012) were subject to an alteration in terms of methodology. This means, taking into account the concept of subscription TV for statistical purposes, and following the reanalysis of the categories embraced by the concept of subscriber to this service, from this report on the services provided under the protocols signed by the Government of the Republic, the Regional Governments, ANACOM, ZON TV Cabo Açoreana, and ZON TV Cabo Madeirense will no longer be considered for the purpose of accounting for subscribers and shares. For this reason there may be small differences in relation to the previously published figures.
1 For the purpose of accounting for subscribers and shares, this figure does not include the services provided under the protocols signed by the Government of the Republic, the Regional Governments, ANACOM, ZON TV Cabo Açoreana and ZON TV Cabo Madeirense, which aimed to guarantee free access for the citizens of the archipelagos to nationwide general interest channels as well as the gradual migration from analogue to digital technology. The services provided under these protocols covered around 40.4 thousand households in 3Q2012, 21.7 thousand being in the Azores, and 18.7 thousand in Madeira. For this reason the historical series presented were corrected and there may be small differences in relation to the previously published figures.
2 For the purpose of accounting for subscribers and shares, this figure does not include the services provided under the protocols signed by the Government of the Republic, the Regional Governments, ANACOM, ZON TV Cabo Açoreana and ZON TV Cabo Madeirense, which aimed to guarantee free access for the citizens of the archipelagos to nationwide general interest channels as well as the gradual migration from analogue to digital technology. The services provided under these protocols covered around 40.4 thousand households in 3Q2012, 21.7 thousand being in the Azores, and 18.7 thousand in Madeira. For this reason the historical series presented were corrected and there may be small differences in relation to the previously published figures.
Consult the statistical report:
- Subscription television service - 3rd quarter 2012 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1146801
