The UK is one of the world’s most dynamic and technologically advanced TV landscapes, according to a forthcoming report from the Digital TV Group (DTG).

woman watching tv

UK: One of the worlds most dynamic TV landscapes

This was revealed in a ‘sneak preview’ webinar prior to the June release of ‘State of The Nation: UK Digital TV Innovation’.

Fronted by Richard Lindsay-Davies, CEO of the DTG, the webinar also featured authors David Sidebottom and Jack Wetherill, principal analysts with Futuresource Consulting in the areas of entertainment content research, and consumer electronics.

Lindsay-Davies said: “The big question is what should we do to ensure that our industry continues to thrive, innovate and sustain its important contributions towards society and the economy.”

Sidebottom stated that consumer spend and TV advertising amounted to £16bn in 2019.

“We see a fairly even uptake between pay-TV and free to air, with subscription TV just ahead at 54%. We also hit the milestone of all households taking at least one SVOD service, and this is increasing week by week,” he said. “This is complimented by 70% of households using some form of broadcast VOD service.”

UK production exports stand at £1.4bn annually, and £6.7bn is spent by broadcasters on network TV programming.

“The UK benefits from a really strong R&D foundation, and its high-quality content production community,” said Sidebottom.

Wetherill praised many pioneers, but BBC R&D is a gem. He said: “It has world-wide renown and employs 200 people. It is handling 85 projects, such as harnessing real-time rendering, and delivering technologies pioneered in VFX and games to offer broadcasters the opportunity to deliver completely personal experiences.”

Both researchers worked to a huge list of key subjects for the DTG, topped by addressable advertising, but Wetherill picked the single, all important one.

“The integration of broadcast and IP for that seamless consumer experience is critical,” he said. “The focus now is switching to bring IP, particularly the internet delivery of content, up to the level of broadcast. This enables broadcasters to dynamically switch between broadcast and IP, and back again.

“This is where the DVB-I spec comes in, bringing IP delivered content onto the EPG alongside transmitted programs,” he added.