Cable TV customers up by 4.3% in 2005

At the end of 2005, there were 1.398 million cable TV customers in Portugal, an increase of 4.3% compared to the end of 2004 - an increase 57 thousand subscribers. However, compared to the third quarter of the year, there was almost no change, with only 2 thousand new subscribers registered during the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Autonomous Region of Madeira saw the highest growth in subscription (1.7%). Madeira also stands out with a year-on-year rise of 5.9%.

The regions of the North and Algarve saw a fall in the number of subscribers, 3.1% and 4.4% respectively. This can be attributed to an administrative process of disconnection of the service provided by one of the cable TV operators. This resulted in delayed payments and improper use of the service.

In the fourth quarter, the distribution of subscribers by region remained practically unchanged. The Lisbon region continued to account for over half of all subscribers (50.6%), followed by the North with 23.4%, the Centre with 12%, the Algarve with 3.6% and Alentejo with 2.7%. The Autonomous region of Madeira accounted for 4.7% of all subscribers, while the Azores had 2.9%.

At the end of the year, Cable TV distribution by Direct To Home (DTH) technology had 394 thousand subscribers, up 0.5% or 2 thousand new subscribers compared to the previous quarter and up 5.1% on the year.

28% of all households now subscribe to Cable TV, while 3.8 million households or 75.2% of total households are now cabled, up 1% on the previous quarter. Of these cabled households, 37% subscribe to Cable TV, while the percentage of subscribers out of the total population stands at 13.3%.

Lisbon keeps its position as the region with the most cabled households (48%), followed by the North (27%) and the Centre (14%).

Consult:

Quarterly reports by service http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=277884