CABLE CONGRESS 2011 – LUCERNE. Up to 75% of the subscribers served by members Poland’s leading cable association PIKE are likely to be receiving digital TV services within the next three to four years, according to its president Jerzy Straszewski.
Speaking exclusively to Broadband TV News, he added that at while at present 75% of PIKE members’ subscribers are within reach of digital TV services, only 25-30% of that number choose to receive them.
PIKE estimates that the number of cable homes in Poland currently receiving digital TV services stands at 1.1 million.
This rapid projected take-up of digital cable will in good part be down to the introduction of a universal set-top box. Three companies – Kaon, Echostar and ADB – have been short listed by PIKE to supply the box, with the winner due to be announced in May.
Commenting on other developments in the Polish cable market, Straszewski added that aside from the consolidation currently taking place amongst the largest players – Liberty Global is set to acquire Aster, with a decision expected from the competition authority UoKiK in the next few weeks, and deal between Vectra and Multimedia Polska could be in the pipeline – there is increased cooperation between smaller operators, headed by Inea and Toya, especially in the technological sphere.
