Analysts: IPTV to keep thriving despite financial meltdown

Even the ravaged economy can't hamper the growth of IPTV on a global basis, according to an analyst report released today.

In spite of the global economic crisis, worldwide subscriberships to "telco TV" -- a category encompassing TV delivered by telecom operators through IP in addition to other technologies -- will more than triple by 2012 to 71.6 million, according to the report from In-Stat.

Over the same time frame, worldwide subscriber revenues will soar to $26.6 billion.

The analysts point out that quadruple-, double-, and single-play packages are now joining triple-play offerings, and that convergence applications are now emerging which enable remote control of TV set-top boxes via PCs, phones, and multi-platform distribution.

Several new countries -- including Ghana, Jordan, and Montenegro -- experienced the launch of their first commercial IPTV offerings last year, according to the report. In several other markets -- including India, Korea and Brazil -- recent regulatory changes have given telco TV a major boost.