Solon keeps you up-to-date.

New devices allow to access video content from the Internet on TV screens. The consequence is an intensified competition for content and audience share. Younger users already spend as much time using Internet content as watching TV. This raises the question if the different regulatory frameworks for TV and Internet are still adequate in the light of these new developments.

Broadband services, mobile, B2B and next-generation TV will drive the next phase of cable growth. The fifth Solon Survey of European Cable Communication shows an optimistic and strong industry: Cable operators expect a revenue increase of over 5% per year until 2014 and further EBITDA margin expansion by two percentage points up to 48%. For the first time, cable operators forecast a declining basic TV penetration while pay TV penetration is forecast to grow.

With 14 participating companies from 11 different countries, the 2011/12 edition of the Solon cable survey provides a wealth of references, benchmarks, business ideas and market opportunities. 

The newspaper and magazine publishing market faces declining revenues from circulation and advertising. Reasons are the changing user behavior, new products such as smartphones and tablets, the shift of advertising and the market entry of new competitors. What alternative sources of revenues can publishers tap into? Marcus Englert proposes a diversification strategy which incorporates new formats, genres, and applications into the portfolio.

Mobile Network Operators are faced with soaring data traffic. According to the Solon White Paper, mobile data traffic in Germany will increase by more than 15-fold between 2011 and 2016. This amounts to an annual volume of 2,100 Petabytes - about 37 billion streams of a 15-minute newscast. The authors Stephan Kalleder and Andreas Pauly examine the reasons behind the growing mobile data consumption.

The demand for online video services is growing. According to a survey by Solon, 41% of the surveyed Internet users in the UK are already using Video-on-Demand or OTT services on a regular basis compared to 46% in the United States and 33% in Germany.  The Solon Video Survey examines the preferences and viewing habits of Internet users in five countries with regard to linear broadcast TV as well as non-linear video services (managed Video-on-Demand as well as over-the-top/OTT services). The survey also analyzes the criteria for a purchase decision through a conjoint analysis. Please contact Solon for further information.

The market for Pay TV services in Germany is growing again after a long period of setbacks. Solon expects that in 2013 about 20% of all German households will use at least one form of paid-for TV offer. However, compared to countries such as the US and England, Germany still lags behind. New OTT (over-the-top) offers via internet will spur the usage and penetration of Pay TV offers. Henning Röper takes a look at the trends in the German market.

Fast and ultrafast internet access are two of the main targets of the European Commission’s Digital Agenda. Cable leads the way to ultra-high speed: 100 Mpbs and more will be the cable standard of the future. By 2013, 51% of EU households will be reached with 30 Mbps via cable networks. Solon examines the contribution of the European cable industry to the Digital Agenda in several areas and discusses policy implications.

What are the changes (and what will not change) in the national and international TV and movie markets? In his presentation, Marcus Englert, Associate Partner at Solon, discusses the latest developments in the TV industry: Shifts in media usage, new allocation of media budgets, new consumer devices, and new competitors force established player to address new challenges. Marcus Englert shows how new business models could be successful, how to raise sales and make gains through new distribution channels such as video on demand.

The German cable operators drive infrastructure competition: the expansion of cable creates lasting competition, growth and employment. The cable companies support competition for increasingly higher bandwidths and, in turn, the variety of multimedia offers. By also supplying broadband in rural areas, and through media diversity and plurality, cable operators contribute significantly to political goals. In the study written for the cable industry organization ANGA, Solon shows the importance of the cable industry. The study also gives recommendations for policy and regulatory frameworks for the industry.

In the 2009 crisis, the volatility of TV broadcaster ad revenues was clearly felt. As such, it is important for free TV broadcasters to establish further streams of revenue along side their core ad business. The presentation gives an overview of the possibilities in the areas of linear TV, video and non-video and shows both challenges and essential factors for success. 

"Who will win and who will lose in the battle for budgets?" This was the leading question for the Solon panel discussion at Medientage Munich 2009. Experts in the areas of print, TV, Online, the advertising industry and Google discussed the advertising market crisis. Henning Röper explained current trends and challenges in an introductory presentation.

High-Speed broadband Internet access, interactive TV-European cable operations equip themselves to compete. With speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s they have left the broadband field behind. This puts them in a solid position despite the economic crisis - with growth rates of 7% and annual EBITDA gains of close to 9% through 2012. 

The new report by Solon for the industry association Cable Europe shows the state of play of the European cable markets: sustainable growth, outperformance of the general European economy, and continued investments in high speed fiber networks. The study forecasts 6-8% revenue increases for 2009-2010. It also provides an overview of cable markets in different EU countries, its positive effect on employment, and identifies EU policy challenges.

How much progress is being made in digitizing German TV cable? Solon presented a comparison with other European countries on the BLM forum "TV 2011". Currently the exceptional analog TV offering is the biggest migration hurdle. Significant additional benefits from digitalization for customers can accelerate conversion.

The German advertising has to expect a reduction of 8-10% in 2009. Only in 2011 budget will rise again. During the crisis TV is gaining in weight. Read about the consequences for ad sales houses and media companies in a W&V report and in an interview with Solon Consultant Christian Teichmann.
Source: W&V 16/ 2009, www.wuv.de 

German Cable continues to grow strongly. Until 2012 revenues are expected to grow to €3.8 bn, with an annual growth of 7.4%. Our study explains how cable operators will reach this target and which challenges they have to master on their way.

From providing services to servicing customers: Cable network operators start to discover their customers. Excellence in marketing, sales and customer service are the new top discussions of the European cable industry.
The European Cable Survey 2007 is the most encompassing study of strategic perspectives and operational challenges for European cable network operators.

No frills brands are only the beginning... This Solon study analyzes the changes in the mobile industry and elaborates three hey trends that will dominate the coming years. Market growth will be reduced to 5% per annum and the overall market volume will grow from euro 21 bn. (2004) t euro 28 bn. (2010).

The move towards Tiple Play pays off for cable since more than doubles EBITDA per subscriber and boosts growth to double digit level. The European Cable Survey 2005 is the most encompassing survey of strategic perspectives and operative challenges in European cable.

The first German HDTV channels will be launched in autumn 2005. This Solon study forecasts active use of HDTV by 15% of all TV households by 2010 and identifies drivers and restraints for this development.

Regional newspapers dominate the German newspaper market, but they have many significant strategic and economic challenges in front of them. More mergers and cooperations will play an important role in the future. The study gives an overview of this market and its potentials.

International roaming revenues will continuously grow despite decreasing prices. This Solon Industry Briefing forecasts a revenue growth of on average 6.4 % p.a. until 2012 driven by increasing mobile penetration in emerging and volume growth in established markets.

How is a German cable network structured, and what do the different network elements actually look like? An overview.

The German cable market is growing: revenues are expected to grow by 45% to 3.4 bn EUR by 2010. Our latest study explains how this growth is achieved and which challenges have to be addressed on the road ahead.

This study includes key data on market volumes, market segments, growth, the large players and competing technologies.

Which changes will 2005 bring to the German cable market? "Outlook 2005" summarizes our view on the industry and the core drivers behind the changes ahead.

Solon presents the first comprehensive benchmarking study for the European cable market. The strategic and operative perspectives of the big cable network players were investigated.

Using three examples from the media industry, the report shows important success factors for cross-selling to subscribers