New figures from the regulator Ofcom show the number of homes receiving free-to-air satellite transmissions to be close to 900,000. Half of the 120,000 increase comes from the newly launched Freesat platform. The remainder includes viewers to Sky’s own FTA package, former Sky subscribers that have maintained their dish and receiver, and a handful of multi-satellite systems including the Cyfra+ and TV Cabo dishes found around the British Isles.
Ofcom’s figures relate to the period to June 30, 2008, but Freesat’s published figures run to the end of September. Of the 39,018 Freesat receivers sold by the end of the second quarter, more than half (23, 854) were HD units.
The latest Ofcom Digital Progress Report also shows 88% of households now have digital TV on their main TV display. Secondary TV sets are also being upgraded with 19.1 million of the 35 million secondary sets now converted.
The proportion of integrated digital TV sets also continues to increase. The TV displays with in-built digital tuners accounted for 1.4 million of the two million DTT devices sold in the second quarter. IDTV sales are up 54% on the year.
The total number of households with DTT at the end of the second quarter stood at 16.7 million.
About Julian Clover
"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins. 
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.