This unique book analyses the standardization and technology adoption of digital broadcasting. You are provided with an historic perspective on industry standardization of TV technology, revealing that the open, committee led DVB Group is much more successful than earlier standardization approaches. It covers the most recent developments in the European, US and Japanese audio-visual sectors. A wide spectrum of business interests are examined, pointing out new challenges in both competition and co-operation, against a background of high development costs (R&D investments, initial costs) and uncertain returns to investors. It focuses on how ATV is expected to revive the saturated television market that still remains the most lucrative for consumer electronics in Europe, Japan and the US. You are presented with a careful comparative assessment of market entry strategies and efforts at standardization. The book helps you identify effective business strategies for digital TV implementation, based on a well-founded understanding of market structures in broadcasting markets in Germany, France, UK, US, and Japan.
Abbreviations, Tables and Figures.; Part I: Network Markets and Standardization. ; Introduction.; Characteristics of network markets and their impact on corporate strategies - Definition of network markets. Network externalities and positive feedback. Lock-in and switching costs. First and second Movers. Corporate strategies in network markets. The impact of compatibility on competition. Regulation in market networks. ; Approaches to standardization - Definition of compatibility standards. Advantages and disadvantages of standardization. Approaches to standardization. Concluding remarks.; Part II: Standardization for Advanced Television Services in the European Union. ; Advanced Television Technology - Basic characteristics of a digital TV system Digital TV versus high-definition TV. Characteristics of different distribution media. Additional technologies in the set-top box. ; European standardization approaches for HDTV and DVB - The European Commission 's policy on standardization. High Definition Television (HDTV). Digital Video Broadcasting. Assessment of the DVB standardization approach.; Part III: Diffusion of DVD Technology. ; Digital TV in France: A European Success Story.; Introduction - The TV landscape prior to the launch of digital offers. The digital satellite broadcasters. The digital cable offers in France. Digital terrestrial television (DTT). The regulation of broadcasting in France. Concluding remarks.; Germany: A large market without demand for digital pay-TV.; Introduction - Existing market structures. Strategies for theIntroduction of digital TV services. Media Regulation in Germany. Conclusion.; UK: LateIntroduction of digital TV and much regulation.; Introduction - The Structure of the UK television market. Digital Terrestrial television (DTT). Business strategies of the digital pay-TV competitors. A new chance for the cable industry? The advantages of digital cable. Strategies of the cable operators. A focus on regulation. A focus on regulation. The regulatory system. Media ownership regulation. A look at past regulatory approaches to cable and satellite TV. The regulation of digital TV. Conclusion; Comparative analysis of the market developments in France, Germany and the UK - Introductory remarks. Preconditions for the launch of digital TV. Strategies and consumer propositions for digital services. The effects of debate and public regulation. Conclusion.; Digital TV in the US and Japan - US developments for digital TV. Digital TV in Japan: from pioneer to laggard? ; Final assessment and Conclusion - Bibliography. Annex I, Annex II, Annex III.;
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Katharina Grimme
Katharina Grimme is senior analyst at Ovum Ltd. She received her M.B.A. from the Birmingham Business School, and her Ph.D. in economics/politics from the University of Sussex.