Skip to main content

China Applies its Policy to Promote Digital TV

The deployment of 'Whole System Shift', a government effort to speed up the conversion of urban households from analog to digital cable TV, is driving China's digital cable set-top box (STB) market, reports In-Stat.

As a result, unit shipments of digital cable STBs are projected to quadruple, from 3 million in 2005 to 12 million in 2010. "Most of the digital STB shipment increases will come from basic set-top boxes," says Rebecca Tan, In-Stat analyst.

"Most cable operators that are now installing Whole System Shift provide only basic services, and networks have not yet begun to install two-way networks. Operators' ability to provide interactive services is limited in the short-term, therefore, operators prefer basic boxes."

In-Stat's study found the following:

- Following several trials of Whole System Shift, the digital-cable TV subscriber base jumped dramatically from 800,000 to 2.7 million by the end of 2005.

- There will be steady growth in advanced-box shipments, reaching 1.5 million by 2010.

- Total revenue of cable STBs in China is projected to reach $586 million by 2010.

Popular posts from this blog

Bold Broadband Policy: Yes We Can, America

Try to imagine this scenario, that General Motors and Ford were given exclusive franchises to build America's interstate highway system, and also all the highways that connect local communities. Now imagine that, based upon a financial crisis, these troubled companies decided to convert all "their" local arteries into toll-roads -- they then use incremental toll fees to severely limit all travel to and from small businesses. Why? This handicapping process reduced the need to invest in building better new roads, or repairing the dilapidated ones. But, wouldn't that short-sighted decision have a detrimental impact on the overall national economy? It's a moot point -- pure fantasy -- you say. The U.S. political leadership would never knowingly risk the nation's social and economic future on the financial viability of a restrictive duopoly. Or, would they? The 21st century Global Networked Economy travels across essential broadband infrastructure. The forced intro...