Internet-based television services such as video-on-demand won't be widely
adopted in China until 2008, according to new reports from research firms that
watch the industry.
The obstacles include uncertain policies, immature technology and high
prices, according to research firms iSuppli Corp, Deloitte and International
Data Corp.
The Internet-protocol TV user base in China reached 300,000 in 2005 - a huge
leap from the previous year's 50,000 but still only a limited portion of the
total TV user base of 300 million.
"IPTV is a wise choice for telecom operators to expand their business scope,
but it still faces restrictions at present," IDC China analyst Yang Feng said in
a new report.
The IPTV market won't develop rapidly until 2008, the researchers said. By
the end of that year, the IPTV user base should hit 10 million and reach 23
million by 2010, IDC said. Currently, China Telecom and China Netcom have
launched trial IPTV services in Shanghai and in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province.
The State Administration of Radio Film and Television, worried about the
convergence of the telecom and media sectors, have issued IPTV license only to
media giants such as Shanghai Media Group. As a result, telecom operators have
to cooperate with media groups to run IPTV services.
IPTV provides interactive programs including video-on-demand and remote
medical, education and videoconference services, all of which depend on high
speed Internet access.
High-definition TV programs need speeds of 1 to 2 megabits a second, but most
Chinese broadband networks can deliver only 512 kilobits to 1 megabit, industry
insiders said.
China Telecom is upgrading its national broadband network and hopes to triple
or quadruple Internet speeds by 2008. But speed isn't the only pathway to
profits. Content is another key.
"The main challenge for the majority of IPTV operators is that
telecommunications carriers are relatively inexperience in selling media
services," Deloitte said in a report.
High prices are another problem. The monthly breakeven price of IPTV in China
is 85 yuan (US$10.62). Digital cable TV, which provides a huge number of TV
channels but without interactive functions, has a break-even price of only 28
yuan.
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