Cable Modem Service, Digital Cable TV Critical To Cable Industry Growth, Reports In-Stat.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- With the number of analog cable TV subscriber households either flat or declining in many developed countries, the cable TV industry's future depends more and more on cable modem service and digital video services, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). The high-tech market research firm states that there are currently 44 million digital cable TV households around the world, and it further projects that the total number of worldwide digital cable TV subscribers will rise to more than 108 million by the end of 2009. At the same time, In-Stat notes that worldwide cable modem subscribers are projected to reach 50 million at the end of 2005, and rise to 99 million by 2009.

"As key parts of a cable operator's 'triple play' service bundle, cable modem and digital cable video subscriber growth patterns receive a great deal of attention from the cable industry," said Mike Paxton, In-Stat analyst. "In most regions of the world, the near-term growth trends for both services remain positive, although alternative video and high-speed data service bundles will pose a serious challenge to the cable industry in the years to come."

A recent report by In-Stat found the following:

--There are currently 347 million worldwide cable TV subscriber households. Three countries, China, India, and the United States, account for 60% of worldwide cable TV households.

--Growth in U.S. cable TV subscriber households will be modest over the next few years. U.S. cable TV subscriber households are projected to rise from 69 million at the end of 2005 to 72 million in 2009. However, cable TV subscriber growth is projected to be significant in both China and in the Asia-Pacific region.

--North America accounts for 55% of all worldwide cable modem subscribers. The Asia-Pacific region is the next largest region with 24% of worldwide cable modem subscribers.

--Cable modem services are becoming a "cash cow" for cable TV operators. Worldwide revenues grew to $19 billion in revenues in 2004, and are projected to reach $22 billion this year.

The report, "Global Roll Up: Cable Video & High-Speed Data Subscribers" (#IN0502141MB), covers the markets for cable modem and digital cable TV video services. It discusses technology standards and market dynamics for cable modem services worldwide, provides regional and country-by-country subscriber data for cable modem services, and forecasts subscriber growth through 2009. The report also tracks growth of the cable TV industry with regional and country-by-country subscriber data for cable TV, with a special emphasis on digital service. In addition, it forecasts cable TV subscribers and digital cable subscribers by region through 2009.

For more information on this report, please visit: http://www.instat.com/catalog/Ccatalogue.asp?id=39 or contact Erin McKeighan at 480-609-4551 or [e-mail]. The report price is $2,995.

About In-Stat

In-Stat (www.in-stat.com) is the leading provider of actionable research, assessments and market forecasts of semiconductors and advanced communications equipment and services. Our forecasts, analysis, and insights are derived from both a deep technology understanding and a unique research methodology, which examines each segment of the value chain for each market. Technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals and market specialists, worldwide, rely on In-Stat's tenured, experienced staff and in-depth research to support critical technology, product and success decisions.

In-Stat is a strategic segment of the $8 billion Reed Elsevier global information network, with access to an expansive worldwide electronic network, extensive technology databases and well-informed personnel. In-Stat analysts gain exceptional insight into geographic marketplaces and specific technologies within markets such as electronics, cable and wireless. As a member of Reed Business Information, In-Stat is a division of the largest business-to-business publisher in the United States.