IPTV revenue set to hit US$4.5bn in 2008

Hong Kong - Worldwide subscriptions to internet protocol TV (IPTV) jumped 64% this year, with PCCW's now TV ranked the world's fourth biggest IPTV operator, according to new research.

New figures from research group Gartner show across the Asia Pacific, IPTV revenue is expected to reach US$3.5 billion by 2012, with the number of subscribers forecast to grow 34% from 6.5 million in 2008 to 18.7 million by 2012.

On a global scale, IPTV has reached 19.6 million subscribers, with revenue projected to a total of US$4.5 billion this year.

Slowly entering the race to compete against other IPTV players are YouTube, Joost, Facebook and MySpace, which will strongly drive up subscription numbers.

"The video consumption field will become increasingly crowded," Elroy Jopling, Gartner research director, said.

Jopling added that the change since 2007 places greater demands on IPTV operators to innovate and use innovative services include digital music streaming, photo and video sharing as well as e-ticketing.

Gartner predicted IPTV will have 1.1% subscribers worldwide by the end of this year, and forecasted its revenue will hit US$19 million in 2012.