The number of homes connected to Dutch cable operator Rekam has dropped below 60% for the first time.
According to research from the Dutch website Digitale Kabeltelevisie, the cable operator now has 58.9% penetration of all homes passed.
The drop in cable subscribers is due to increased competition from DTT provide Digitenne and IPTV services from KPN and others.
The country’s two largest cable operators, Ziggo and UPC, are showing a similar downwards trend, but have slightly larger market shares (see chart).
According to the research, the main reason for the accelerated loss of subscribers is due to the fact that Rekam has decided to switch off all analogue channels on October 11, 2011. Looking at the chart, there is indeed a faster dip during the fourth quarter of 2011.
Rekam is active in the central part of Holland, in the city of Gouda and environs. The operator now has 33,317 homes connected. Of these, 19,264 take the basic Rekam bouquet retailing at €7.07. 14,053 buy the more expensive bouquet from CAIW at €18.25 a month.
The chart below compares the market shares of Ziggo, UPC and Rekam. The percentage shows the number of homes connected in relation to the number of homes passed.
