This is the Teracom Group

Transcription

1 Annual Report 2010

2 This is the Teracom Group The Teracom Group is a nordic network operator and Pay-Tv Group that offers reliable media and communication solutions. The main product areas are: Pay-Tv, Tv and radio broadcasting, ird (integrated receiver Decoders) testing, co-location, service and capacity. The Group currently has operations in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. in Sweden and Denmark, the Teracom Group owns and operates the terrestrial networks and simultaneously offers Pay-Tv. in the Finnish market, the Teracom Group owns and operates Pay-Tv activities. Our ambition is to grow in all of our existing markets by developing and strengthening the terrestrial platform. The Teracom Group started up its business activities in the 1920s, in conjunction with the first radio broadcasts in Sweden and Denmark. The Teracom Group has approximately 700 employees, of which 570 work at the Group s network companies and 130 work within the area of Pay-Tv. The Group has approximately 944,000 Pay-Tv customers and more than 200 corporate customers. The Teracom Group is wholly owned by the Swedish state.

3 VISION we deliver the best viewing and listening experience, characterized by personality, portability, simplicity and reliability. MISSION Teracom Group owns and operates terrestrial broadcasting networks and offers distribution and Pay-Tv services utilizing this platform. GROuP GOALS Revenue growth: 5 10% EBIT margin: 18 20% Customer: Mo s ts atis fie d customers of our industry. Employee: highly motivated and engaged employees. Environmental: yearly decrease BROADCASTERS, TV AND RADIO Free TV and Radio TERACOM Network activities Co-Location, Service and Capacity IRD testing Pay-TV BOXER, PlusTV Pay-TV Activities Sales via retailers and own channels TELECOM CUSTOMERS VIEWERS AND LISTENERS HARDWARE MANUFACTURERS in environmental impact. Income Group income and earnings trend SeK million 5, , , , , , , , ,000 Income Net income Key ratios, Teracom Group income 3,852 3,408 2,991 3,312 3,004 Operatingprofit / loss Operating margin, % net income earnings per share 804 1,076 1,840 1,560 1,191 return on equity, % equity ratio, % average number of employees at year-end The figures stated above are related to continuing operations. This is a translation of the original Swedish annual report. in the event of differences between the english translation and the Swedish original, the Swedish annual report shall prevail.

4 A couple of years ago, the Group consisted of just two companies in one country. Since then, we have successfully pursued a strategy to expand internationally and we currently have five companies in three countries. now, it s time to focus on consolidation, but we are still prepared to act on any new business opportunities that arise. Crister Fritzson President and CEO, Teracom Group Contents The year in review 01 Comments from the CEO 02 Vision, goals and strategic focus areas 04 Surrounding world and market 08 Sweden 15 Denmark 21 Finland 25 Employees 28 Social responsibility 29 Comments from the Chairman of the Board 32 Group management 34 Board of Directors 36 ANNuAL REPORT Board of Directors report 38 Corporate Governance Report 46 Financial overview - Group 54 Income statement - Group 55 Statement of comprehensive income Group 55 Balance sheet Group 56 Cash flow statement Group 57 Statement of changes in equity Group 58 Income statement Parent Company 59 Statement of comprehensive income Parent Company 59 Balance sheet Parent Company 60 Cash flow statement Parent Company 62 Statement of changes in equity Parent Company 63 Notes 64 Auditors report 95 Explanations and definitions 96 Addresses Inside cover

5 teracom group 2010 The year in review The year in review On 1 October, the Teracom Group made its largest acquisition to date by taking over the Danish network company, BSD from DR and TV2. Included in the acquisition were BSD s 34 transmitter stations and its distribution network. hdtv was launched in the Swedish terrestrial network on 1 November. This was possible due to investments in new technology aimed at strengthening the Group s competitiveness. Broadcasts of HDTV are comprised of both free TV channels and Pay-TV channels. The Pay-TV channels are distributed via Boxer Sweden. At year-end, approximately 75 percent of all Swedish households were able to receive HDTV via the terrestrial network. The network will be gradually expanded and it is expected that nearly all Swedish households will have coverage by the end of During the year, the transmitting network for TV was expanded at more than 100 locations in Sweden. As a result, the number of households that have access to the entire TV selection in the terrestrial network has substantially increased. This work was completed on 1 June. One of the tasks completed by Teracom Denmark during the year was a comprehensive update of the DAB network aimed at improving indoor radio reception for households. in August, SR (Swedish Radio) entrusted Teracom Sweden with the task of supplying the company s new computer networks in order to link up all of the local newsrooms. The contract covers more than 40 locations for a four-year period. in June, as part of the effort to focus more on the core business areas, Boxer Sweden started to divest its TV via Broadband (IPTV) activities. By year-end, all of those customers had been transferred to other Pay-TV operators. The scope of these operations was quite small, with less than 2,000 paying customers. Boxer Denmark conducted a number of marketing activities during the year. For example, BOXER TANK-SELV was launched. Consumers who select this product are able to choose for themselves which months they want to subscribe for Pay-TV. Also, a very small terrestrial TV set-top box designed for Boxer s Pay-TV card was introduced. It is connected to a computer, which can then be used as a portable TV screen. in December, PlusTV Finland ran a campaign with Elgiganten offering consumers a great price when they purchased a Pay-TV set-top box (PVR) together with a subscription, which is a new approach in the Finnish Pay-TV market. in February, the Teracom Group made organizational changes in order to achieve a distinct Group structure. The Group management team was strengthened by the addition of the man agers in charge of the operating companies ( Teracom Sweden, Boxer Sweden and PlusTV) as well as managers in charge of the following staff functions: Finance, Strategy Communication and HR. in February, Stephan Guiance was appointed Head of Teracom Sweden. in September, Marianne Winblad von Walter took over as HR Director for the Teracom Group. On 1 November, Gunilla Berg started working as the Executive Vice President and CFO of the Teracom Group. Significant events after year-end 2010 in January 2011, BSD s name was changed to Teracom Denmark and Managing Director, Finn Søndergaard joined the Group management team. 01

6 teracom group 2010 COMMENTS FROM THE CEO An intensive year for the Teracom Group 2010 has been an intensive year for the Teracom Group - major organizational changes were made and competition has become even tougher. We purchased the Danish terrestrial network operator, BSD, so that we could develop the Danish market. We also discontinued Boxer Sweden s IPTV activities. In addition, we launched HDTV in Sweden and fortified the Pay-TV sales efforts at Boxer Denmark and PlusTV in Finland. All of this was the result of shifting to a more focused strategy that is based on the strengths of the terrestrial network and aimed at getting maximum competitive advantage from the money invested. Traditional TV media and ordinary TV channels are stronger than ever. However, the increasing popularity of TV has made it a very important product to the major broadband and telecommunications operators. We are no longer just competing against the ordinary TV platforms, cable and satellite. Now we also compete against the major telecom companies that sell TV via their telecom and fiber networks. It is also becoming increasingly easy to find TV-like services via the open internet (free, pay and illegal services), which indirectly compete for people s time, money and interest. The competitive situation illustrates how important it is for us to focus on our terrestrial networks and their unique advantages and competitiveness. The Group finds itself in a situation where the market in Sweden is mature and after many years of investments, we are now making a profit, even though our margins are squeezed by necessary new investments. During the fall, Teracom Sweden and Boxer Sweden carried out a very successful launch of HDTV in two new transmitting networks. Besides Great Britain, we are the only country now using the new broadcasting standard, DVB-T2. With more than 75 percent household coverage, we have the most comprehensive T2 network in the world. In 2011, we plan on launching Video-On-Demand, which is a necessary supplement to live TV. Further investments must be made in the Danish and Finnish Pay-TV companies. We know that it takes time to establish a new Pay-TV platform and the competition today is much tougher than it was ten years ago, when Boxer Sweden started up. However, we believe that there is just as much potential in these countries right now, as there was back then in the Swedish market. That is why we are working very 02

7 teracom group 2010 COMMENTS FROM THE CEO hard on new packages, prices and more efficient sales efforts. In Denmark, our acquisition of the Danish network operator will enable us to coordinate network and Pay-TV activities and, together with the public service companies, develop the Danish market so that it is strong well into the future. For many years, we have been broadcasting digital radio in Denmark. The knowledge that we have gained from this will come in handy when digital radio broadcasts start up in Sweden, which may occur already in A couple of years ago, the Group consisted of just two companies in one country. Since then, we have successfully pursued a strategy to expand internationally and we currently have five companies in three countries. Now, it s time to focus on consolidation, but we are still prepared to act on any new business opportunities that arise. During the year, we put a great deal of effort into designing a new, more efficient Group structure with a new Group management team. This process has been closely linked to the development of our new, focused strategy. One result of this was major changes to Boxer Sweden s management. We have also worked to become more efficient through increased collaboration between the various parts of the Group. However, we still realize that loyalty, job satisfaction and performance accountability are typically easier to achieve in smaller working groups or by an individual company. Our challenge is to combine the efficiency of a smaller company that is accountable for its own performance with the synergies existing in a shared value chain between networks and Pay-TV. Our terrestrial network commands between 25 and 60 percent of TV viewing and nearly 100 percent of radio listening, depending on the country and how the calculation is performed. Our networks are specially designed for broadcasting capacity and quality-intensive services like TV and radio to an infinite number of recipients within the area of coverage. The terrestrial networks provide the foundation for our democracies national media policies and ensure that many of our independent broadcasters can be heard. They are also fundamentally important to competition in the TV market and consumers freedom of choice. We have an obligation to ensure that these terrestrial networks fulfill their role and provide the highest possible level of competition, freedom of expression and freedom of information. This is a responsibility that the Teracom Group neither can nor wishes to ignore. Our business revolves around balancing this social responsibility with the more specific requirements on us as a business-driven Group. Neither may take precedence over the other and both must be able coexist at all times. That is our challenge and it is what makes my job of leading the Teracom Group so incredibly stimulating. Crister Fritzson President and CEO, Teracom Group 03

8 teracom group 2010 VISION, GOALS AND STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS Profitable growth via the digital terrestrial network The Teracom Group s strategy has been derived from the terrestrial networks strengths: reliability, simplicity, coverage and portability. These strengths enable us to offer products and services that provide significant value to our customers who are primarily TV viewers, radio listeners, TV companies and radio companies. The Teracom Group has been in business for almost 90 years. What started out as radio broadcasting to listeners in Sweden is now a Nordic Group that operates the terrestrial network for radio and TV and also provides Pay-TV services. The extensive range of knowledge and experience that the Teracom Group has acquired through the years will be put to good use in its pursuit of international expansion. During 2011, the Group will concentrate on creating a strong Nordic foundation with a focus on, among others, growth in the newly established markets of Denmark and Finland. Looking more long term, the Teracom Group s strategy is to continue growing outside the Nordic region by investing in markets where it is possible for the Group to act as both network operator and Pay-TV provider. Finn Sondergaard is the Managing Director of Teracom Denmark, which operates the Danish terrestrial network. The expansion in Denmark strengthens our position in the value chain On 1 October 2010, the Danish terrestrial network operator, BSD (Broadcast Service Danmark A/S) became part of the Teracom Group under the name Teracom A/S (hereinafter referred to as Teracom Denmark). The acquisition is part of a clear strategy to create a foundation for future growth and profitability by integrating network services and Pay-TV in the Teracom Group s core business. A major integration project got underway already last summer, with the goal of identifying new business opportunities and synergies. Ingrid Bardh, who is in charge of the project, explains. We see direct advantages in having both networks and Pay-TV in the same area in order to be able to coordinate efforts in a new way. This primarily has to do with working together to identify common denominators. We need to identify the strengths of our company culture and best practices within the Group, as well as ensuring that all resources are used in the best possible way, she says. A group consisting of approximately forty employees from both countries was formed and assigned the task of identifying primary business opportunities and collaboration strategies before year-end All new measures and ideas that came forth have since been implemented within the line functions during A number of working groups were created to focus on the most important areas: Legal, Finance, Company Structure, Sourcing, Sales and Business Development, HR, Technology and Products, Service, IT and Communications. Already during the first month, the project groups succeeded in identifying many ways of becoming more efficient and several new business opportunities. Some examples of this are joint insurance and purchasing agreements, IT solutions, collaboration routines and HR strategies. For example, Teracom Denmark didn t have its own HR function, since they only had around 70 employees. In Sweden, on the other hand, there are well-established strategies in place for conducting employee performance reviews, salary reviews and other routines. So, we have set up a Danish HR function that is part of the Group s HR function. There is much to be gained in general from coordination between the Danish companies, continues Ingrid Bardh. The technical gains, however, are the most obvious. Teracom Denmark has a modern and efficient infrastructure consisting of masts for radio and TV broadcasting and a fiber optic network that connects them. Valuable specialist expertise exists on each side, which enables cost savings and the ability to provide a strong offering to the market. Examples of the specialist expertise at Teracom Denmark is experience and knowledge on transport networks and DAB technology for digital radio. The Teracom Group is confident that it will identify more synergies and business opportunities going forward. 04

9 teracom group 2010 VISION, GOALS AND STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS Vision We deliver the best viewing and listening experience, characterized by personality, portability, simplicity and reliability. Mission Teracom Group owns and operates terrestrial broadcasting networks and offers distribution and Pay-TV services utilizing this platform. GROUP GOALS Revenue growth: 5 10% Sales growth shows the Group s annual rate of growth as a percentage figure. EBIT margin: 18 20% Operating margin measures the Teracom Group s profitability before net financial items and tax in relation to its sales. Customer: Most satisfied customers of our industry. Employee: Highly motivated and engaged employees a prerequisite for achieving other goals. Environmental: Yearly decrease in environmental impact. 05

10 teracom group 2010 VISION, GOALS AND STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS Focus on the Nordic region, competitiveness and profitability The Teracom Group has expanded its business and it now has operations in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The long-term aim is to continue growing both within and beyond the Nordic region. However, before the Group takes the next steps towards international expansion, it must focus on consolidating operations, creating good growth in Denmark and Finland, and strengthening its position in all markets. Second year with a shared vision and strategy In 2010, the Teracom Group made additional progress by establishing a shared vision, mission and strategic focus that applies to all of its companies. In order to support this effort, all of the Group s companies formulated shared values which serve as important pillars. They also came up with a shared vision of leadership and joint guidelines that summarize the Teracom Group s strengths. Each company belonging to the Group operates within its national boundaries on its focused assignment. Working together, the Teracom Group can create greater value for its customers, increase customer satisfaction, ensure competitiveness and achieve long-term profitability. The main features of the Group s strategy are the same as they were before - the Teracom Group is a Nordic network and Pay-TV operator. The Group sees great benefits in being able to work with the entire broadcasting value chain - from a program company s signal to the consumer s receiver and packaging of the content. The Teracom Group is a Nordic player and this characterizes all of its actions. Its foundation lies in the terrestrial network for radio and TV and the organization has been built on those strengths. At all times, the Group must find new ways of working smarter and more efficiently. Long-term perspective The Teracom Group has expanded its operations such that it is now comprised of network and Pay-TV activities in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The long-term ambition is to continue growing both within and beyond the Nordic region. However, before the Group takes its next steps towards international expansion, it must focus on consolidating operations. The Teracom Group is a Nordic network operator that owns the Kaknäs tower media hub and subnodes in Denmark and other locations outside the Nordic region. With this infrastructure, the Teracom Group is the natural entry point for broadcasters, service providers and platform operators when moving program content to and within this region. Strengths of the core business The Teracom Group s focus in 2010 and its strategy going forward is to strengthen the unique advantages of the core business - simplicity and portability in terms of radio and TV broadcasting. One consequence of this was the Teracom Group s decision in 2010 to discontinue its IPTV activities. Within the area of TV, major investments were made in Sweden in 2010 in conjunction with the launch of HDTV. In 2011 we expect there to be opportunities for testing 3D TV in the terrestrial network. Within the area of radio, Teracom Denmark, on behalf of Danish Radio, has expanded the indoor coverage of the digital radio network. Teracom Sweden is continuing its efforts to prepare for the launch of digital radio. The technology is reliable and there are no technical problems associated with starting up regular digital radio broadcasts. One of the strengths of being a Nordic Group is the ability to use the knowledge that has been acquired in Denmark to its advantage when working with digital radio in Sweden. In order to strengthen the core business, terrestrial TV, the Group believes there are opportunities for supplementing it with new functions that are not currently being offered to customers. During the year, an On-Demand platform based on reception of terrestrial TV has been developed. It will offer On-Demand services, such as a video store, On-Demand TV, an applications store and other interactive services. An offering that includes a TV set-top box, content packaging and other service will be launched in Sweden in In order to remain competitively strong and profitable in the long-term, there must be a focus on constantly developing active leadership practices and the skills of employees. 06

11 teracom group 2010 VISION, GOALS AND STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS Strengthen the competitiveness of core products The Group must continue investing in and developing products and services that create long-term value for customers. This is necessary in order to increase the number of Pay-TV subscriptions in the terrestrial network, maintain the Group s position as a prioritized partner/platform for broadcasters and increase market penetration in new segments. The Teracom Group will develop products and invest in the technical platform in order to increase its competitiveness in terms of coverage, portability, simplicity, reliability and affordability. When appropriate, functions from other technologies can be added in order to strenghten the products attractiveness. The Teracom Group will coordinate product and technology development within the Group by using a common road map and a launch schedule for each individual geographic market. As necessary, the Group will cooperate with other stakeholders in order to obtain specific expertise or product functions. Offer the most attractive content and packaging Competitive packaging and attractive content is crucial in order to provide appealing visual and audio experiences. To a great extent, market penetration and ARPU are dependent on a competitive customer offering. The Teracom Group will focus on strategies and potential partnerships to ensure its access to attractive (or sometimes unique) content, while maintaining a Group perspective at all times. The Teracom Group will have an innovative, smart way of working so that it can offer both content and packaging that appeals to customers and which results in profitability, market penetration and customer satisfaction. Strengthen its position in the value chain Through control of its network and Pay-TV activities, the Teracom Group can, in the same way as its competitors, create a business process that significantly strengthens its competitiveness and solidifies its position in the value chain. The Group must develop a business process which ensures that it makes the right investments and develops the right products relative to customer demand. It will develop a business process that benefits customers every step of the way, from a broadcasters signal to the consumer s receiver (including Pay-TV services). Everything must be based on the customer s needs. Future international expansion will be based on opportunities that will enable the Group to integrate both network and Pay-TV services. Build a strong position in the Nordic region By treating the Nordic countries as a single, joint market for core business activities, the Teracom Group will be able to strengthen its position relative to its competitors, broadcasters and suppliers. The small geographic area and cultural similarities enable the Group to benefit from synergies, economies of scale and knowledge exchange. The Teracom Group will build up a large, profitable base of Nordic viewers and listeners and capitalize on the synergies and economies of scale resulting from geographically well-integrated activities. The Teracom Group has recently been through a period of rapid expansion. Now, in the short to medium term, it must focus on integration and deriving benefits from the new value that has been added to the Group. In the long term, the Teracom Group will investigate opportunities for expanding in Europe based on its strong position in the Nordic region. Work cost-efficient and smartly Increased competition, particularly between different distribution platforms, requires the Teracom Group to continually strive for increased efficiency in all areas. The Group operates in three geographically neighboring markets, which creates economies of scale and synergies. The Teracom Group always chooses the most cost-efficient, smart solutions. It identifies and uses the best practices existing within the Group in terms of brand, IT systems, processes, methods of analysis, etc. The Group will balance its expenditures on maintenance of its core business activities, development of new products and services and investments in new business opportunities. Strenghten skills and leadership In order to become more competitive, it is necessary to have highly motivated and engaged employees and this requires continual development of professional skills and leadership practices. Key success factors are a shared culture and good understanding of the entire business process. The Teracom Group s shared culture and values enable it to become more efficient. The Teracom Group focuses on continual development of its employees core competencies. The Teracom Group will develop a performance management culture that ensures a strong and motivational leadership. 07

12 teracom group 2010 SURROUNDING WORLD AND MARKET Freedom of choice and flexibility drive development TV s position in the overall Nordic media market continues to be strong and terrestrial TV has held its position as the dominant platform for TV broadcasting in Western Europe. For both TV and radio, it is evident that there is an increased demand for greater flexibility and freedom of choice. Digital radio, On-Demand services and On-Demand TV all meet this need by giving TV viewers and radio listeners the ability to watch or listen wherever and whenever they want to. Overall, the consumption of all types of media has increased during the last few years. Terrestrial TV is a very important platform throughout the Western World and broadcast TV accounts for a continually growing share of media consumption. Competition for consumers time is stiff, as is the competition between broadcasters. The situation in each Nordic country is about the same when it comes to per capita TV consumption, i.e. approximately three hours per day. In Europe, digital TV development varies from country to country. However, most countries belonging to the EU either already have made, or soon will (within the next few years) make the transition to digital TV. Another trend is that actual TV content has become more fragmented. TV viewing is spread out across a greater number of channels and in Sweden, Denmark and Finland, the number of channels has increased during recent years. Public service is still the leader, but it is steadily losing viewers. Market share of the biggest commercial channels is also shrinking, while market share of niche channels is growing. From a European perspective, HDTV development is still in its infancy. However, it is expected to break through on a broad front in several countries during the next few years as the broadcasting networks are updated. In 2009 Great Britain launched HDTV in the terrestrial network, making it the first European country to do so. By the end of 2010, it had four MUXs in the terrestrial network and a total of approximately 60 HDTV channels. OFCOM, which is the British equivalent of the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS), published a study in December 2010 revealing that 59 percent of all British households own at least one HDTV. Accordingly, households in Great Britain have the greatest share of HDTVs in the world. For radio, the transition to digital technology using the DAB+ broadcasting standard is occurring on a large scale throughout the world. During fall 2008, Malta became the first European country to launch DAB+. In spring 2009, Australia launched DAB+ as the official digital radio standard. Other countries that have already implemented DAB+ are Switzerland, Germany and Singapore. Countries besides Sweden that are expected to launch DAB+ sometime during the next few years are Italy, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Malaysia, China and Denmark. THE SWEDISH TV MARKET Compared to last year, TV viewing in Sweden increased to a record high level of

13 teracom group 2010 SURROUNDING WORLD AND MARKET minutes, which corresponds to nearly 3 hours of viewing per day, per person. Historically, this is a very high figure, even though there are countries reporting much higher viewing statistics. When it comes to TV distribution, cable TV commands the greatest share, with 2.8 million connected households. Terrestrial TV is next, with approximately 1 million connected households. For satellite TV, the corresponding figure is approximately 660,000 and for IPTV it is 420,000. Mature Pay-TV market where competition is tough The Swedish Pay-TV market is mature and competition is extremely tough. Besides Boxer, the major competitors in the Swedish Pay-TV market are Comhem, Viasat, Canal Digital and Telia. In 2007, when the transition to digital TV occurred, neither Telia s nor Telenor s broadband companies were competitors in the TV market. But, when the analogue terrestrial network was shut down, the Pay-TV market increased substantially when many households decided to switch over to Pay-TV solutions in the terrestrial network. That rapid growth has now leveled off, simultaneous to more Pay-TV companies with similar offerings becoming established. As competition has increased, a growing number of Pay-TV suppliers have opted to compete by offering triple play services. Just like Boxer, the major cable TV companies offer combined packages of broadband, TV and telephony. In addition, two of the major telecom companies have launched TV via broadband (IPTV) together with broadband and telephony. It is estimated that slightly more than 60 percent of all Swedish households have an individual Pay-TV subscription. There is stiff competition between the broadcasters and in Sweden, there are seven national free TV channels and approximately 40 Pay-TV channels offered in the terrestrial network. Although the number of free TV channels decreases the demand for Pay-TV to a certain extent, it also makes the terrestrial network more attractive to all viewers. Accessibility is decisive The supply of Video-on-Demand (VoD) services has increased to meet viewer demand for being able to watch movies and other programs at any time. The trend towards increased flexibility and choice is particularly evident when it comes to Pay-TV viewers, who want to be able to watch the content that they paid for whenever they feel like it. Internet TV viewing is becoming increasingly popular, especially On-Demand services for TV channels. Breakthrough of HDTV on a broad front On 1 November, HDTV was launched in the Swedish terrestrial network. However, it is not a particularly new phenomenon. SVT and TV4 were already broadcasting World Cup soccer matches with HD quality in the terrestrial network back in Now, however, HDTV has been launched on a larger scale using MPEG4 and DVB-T2 technology. At the end of 2010, household coverage reached 75 percent and expansion of the transmitting network will be completed in 2012, at which time essentially the entire Swedish population will have coverage. In 1968, technological advances were hurried along to enable an international breakthrough for color TV in conjunction with the 1968 Olympic games in Mexico. Likewise, it is hoped that HDTV will achieve a similar breakthrough in time for the London Olympics in Changes in consumer behavior and needs are often driven by changes in technology. This also holds true for HDTV, where sales have, to a great extent, driven the developments in technology. The sales volumes for HDTVs have gained momentum in line with steadily increasing consumer demand. Figures indicate that nearly twothirds of the Swedish population already have a flat-screen TV at home. Most of 09

14 teracom group 2010 SURROUNDING WORLD AND MARKET these are HD-ready. HDTV is particularly suitable for programs where there are quickly moving objects, such as sports, nature shows and similar programs that exist among the wide range of channels included in Pay-TV operators HDTV offerings. Therefore, HDTV is expected to strengthen the digital terrestrial network s position and also increase the demand for Pay-TV. Unlike HDTV, there still isn t a very significant demand for 3D TV in the Swedish market. But, it is expected that as the sales of 3D TV sets increase, so will the demand for 3D broadcasts. 3D TV has been offered to a limited extent in the Pay-TV market since the end of However, the terrestrial network is quite prepared to meet the future demand, since the current technology is well suited for 3D broadcasts as well. THE DANISH TV MARKET In total, the Danish TV market consists of approximately 2.5 million households and of that number, a full 2.2 million already have some form of Pay-TV. Just like in Sweden, TV media is very strong. This can be seen in the high sales figures for new flat-screen TVs. TV consumption is steadily growing in Denmark and per capita viewing is currently slightly more than three hours per day. One overall trend is that the major channels are losing viewers to niche channels. There are currently a total of nine free TV channels offered in Denmark s digital terrestrial network. Pay-TV is predominantly distributed via cable TV. 60 percent of Danish households have cable TV and another 15 percent could get cable TV if they chose to. Lately, however, Pay-TV via the terrestrial network and broadband TV has been the fastest growing sector. In Denmark, both Boxer Denmark and YouSee offer Pay-TV subscriptions that also make it possible to watch TV on a computer. Low price sensitivity for Danish Pay-TV The Danish Pay-TV market has two components: four operators who have been in the market for a long time and three new operators. The established competitors are the cable TV companies, YouSee and Stofa and the satellite operators, Viasat and Canal Digital. During the last two years, new competitors have joined the market: the broadband TV companies, TDC and Waoo, offering HomeTrio and Boxer Denmark, which offers digital terrestrial Pay-TV. The trend shows that the new competitors are taking customers away from the more established ones. Both viasat, owned by MTG and Canal Digital, owned by Telenor, are losing customers. The broadband company, Waoo, is the most recent competitor to enter the Danish market. Waoo, a merger of 15 smaller internet operators controlled by energy companies, has launched triple play services. With approximately 55 percent of all Pay-TV customers in Denmark, the cable TV operator, YouSee, is clearly the dominant player. In 2010, the company digitalized its networks. YouSee is owned by TDC, which also owns the new upstart, Home Trio. Pay-TV is popular in Denmark and Danish viewers are less price sensitive than they are in both Sweden and Finland. The free TV channels are facing increasing tough competition for advertising revenue. One such company is the state-owned, commercial public service channel, TV2 and advertising is that channel s only source of revenue. These operators are now turning to Pay-TV instead, which provides them with both advertising and licensing as sources of revenue. THE FINNISH TV MARKET In Finland, TV viewing hasn t changed much since 2009 and it is currently slightly 10

15 teracom group 2010 SURROUNDING WORLD AND MARKET less than 3 hours per day, per person. In total, the Finnish market consists of approximately 2.5 million households, of which 2.2. million have access to TV. However, only 0.6 million households have some form of Pay-TV. When it comes to platforms, there is an even distribution between cable TV and terrestrial digital TV. Both have market share of approximately 45 percent. Satellite TV s share of the market is approximately 7 percent and broadband TV s share of the Finnish Pay-TV market is approximately 3 percent. Some households have both satellite TV and terrestrial digital TV. Low Pay-TV penetration in Finland In Finland, the free TV offering is quite strong compared to the other Nordic countries and the majority of these channels are financed through advertising revenues. The low market penetration of Pay-TV, just 27 percent of Finnish households, is associated with the large number of free TV channels. Pay-TV viewing accounts for just 10 percent of total TV viewing in Finland. However, the free TV channels are owned by the same media companies as the Pay-TV channels. The Finnish market for Pay-TV viewing has remained basically the same since Thus far, the ones who have shown the most interest in Pay-TV are primarily viewers interested in sports, particularly Formula 1. But, the popularity of Formula 1 has dropped during the last few years. PlusTV faces competition from other Pay-TV operators that also broadcast terrestrial TV, as well as competition from cable-tv, satellite TV and IPTV providers. There are many companies offering cable TV. The biggest one is DNA, which has more than 40 percent share of the Finnish cable TV market. Via its Welho cable TV network, DNA currently offers 16 HDTV channels. Canal Digital is the dominant competitor for satellite TV. Its offering is basically the same in all of the Nordic countries. The most popular channels in the Finnish free TV market are YLE 1 (public service channel) and MTV3 (an advertising TV channel owned by Bonnier). Other popular advertising-funded free TV channels are Nelonen and SubTV. Double play instead of triple play Unlike Sweden and Denmark, triple play is not offered in the Finnish market. This is because very few households have fixed telephony. The trend is moving in this direction in many countries, but it has gone a bit faster in Finland. However, there are companies in the Finnish market offering double play - broadband and TV. The major competitors offering double play are TeliaSonera and Elisa. RADIO BROADCASTING The trend is clear across the world: more and more countries have either already implemented digital radio or are considering doing so and the advantages associated with this are numerous. One major advantage is that there is space for more channels and new services, thanks to more efficient transmission technology. It also enables the use of flexible and interactive forms of broadcasting. Already in 1995, Sveriges Radio (SR) began broadcasting with DAB technology and it was the first country to do so. Great Britain was a close second, when it started broadcasting just one hour later. Today, digital radio is a big success in Great Britain. More than one out of every three residents of that country have access to at least one DAB radio in the household. In Denmark, digital radio was launched in Norway s broadcasts got underway in the mid 1990s and Finland started broadcasting already in However, in 2005 the Finnish public service company, YLE, decided to cancel DAB New European forum for terrestrial radio and TV Broadcast Networks Europe (BNE) is a new, non-profit organization that is open to all network operators in the area of terrestrial TV and radio. The goal is to promote a better climate in the TV market in terms of the rules and regulations, operating terms and new technology. The organization was founded in February 2010 and by year-end, 14 network operators with operations in 25 European countries had joined. The idea was to create a counterweight that could represent the industry in its interactions with the EU Commission, the European Parliament, regulatory agencies, politicians and other stakeholders who can influence the conditions for terrestrial radio and TV. Most other sectors, such as satellite, cable and telecom established similar organizations in Brussels years ago. However, in our sector, there was no forum for exchanging ideas and discussing policy issues, spectrum issues and other types of regulations, says Lars Backlund, Vice Chairman of BNE and Director of Public Affairs at Teracom. Throughout Europe, efforts are underway to transition to digital technology. In light of this, the formation of BNE is even more important in order to benefit from the new opportunities. Working groups have been set up to deal with commercial, policy-related and technical issues, with a particular focus on spectrum issues and protecting terrestrial radio and TV from disturbances originating from new mobile systems. There is also a great deal of interest in working with more future-oriented issues, like efficient broadcasting of HDTV and, more long-term, 3D TV as well. Other focus areas are: the development of digital radio platforms, various types of multimedia services, commercial terms and more overall aspects of accessibility. It is important that we work together to achieve a common goal in order to retain the competitiveness of terrestrial radio and TV media. BNE already has representatives from most European countries and it has established a clear position in Brussels. Nevertheless, we anticipate that more operators will join in the near future, which will help even more to make our voice heard, concludes Lars Backlund. 11

16 teracom group 2010 SURROUNDING WORLD AND MARKET broadcasts until further notice. In the Nordic region, Denmark is the strongest country in terms of digital radio. Market penetration in that country is 34 percent. In Norway, it has been decided that FM radio will be shut down in The Swedish radio market SIFO s survey from the end of 2010 on coverage showed that 72.9 percent of the population listens to radio for at least five minutes on an average day, which corresponds to slightly more than five million people between the ages of 9 and 79. This demonstrates that radio is still strong, even though the figures are slightly lower than last year (75.6 percent). However, the numbers tend to fluctuate between periods. The average amount of time spent listening to radio for the entire population was just less than 2.5 hours per day. Public service radio is doing better than the commercial channels and approximately half of the Swedish population has stated that they listen to Sveriges Radio (SR) for at least five minutes on an average day. Radio listening is decreasing, particularly for younger listeners. The big winner in the competition for listeners has been Spotify, which has attracted listeners from music radio, MP3 and CD markets. For internet radio, growth has leveled off in recent years. During the last year, the most important event that occurred in the Swedish radio market was the new radio and TV legislation, which came into force in August. Furthermore, last autumn the Swedish Government decided to allocate broadcasting space for digital radio. As a result, digital transition of the Swedish radio network may soon be possible. Preparations for this shift in technology are underway. The new, more efficient digital broadcasting technology, DAB+ is based on MPEG4 and it provides the space for considerably more channels than today s 4 to 7 nationwide channels that are broadcast in the analogue FM network. It total, the Swedish terrestrial network has room for up to 60 digital nationwide radio channels. Sveriges Radio (SR) is already sending digital broadcasts via DAB within a limited area. However, the public still hasn t shown a great deal of interest since commercial radio channels are not included. However, a major breakthrough is expected as soon as the commercial channels obtain a license, which will significantly increase the selection. The licensing process for additional digital broadcasts is expected to be concluded during The Danish radio market The Danish digital radio network was launched in It has gradually been expanded since then and the last phase of this work is expected to be completed in Teracom Denmark is planning to start broadcasting with DAB+ as of At present, broadcasting takes place using DAB technology. However, with DAB+, it will be possible to broadcast twice as many channels. In Sweden, there is uncertainty concerning the launch of digital radio, but in Denmark it has been a huge success. Sales of small, portable radios has increased and users appreciate the high sound quality and variety of radio programs. In 2010, DAB radio listening increased 10 percent in Denmark, which means that nearly one in every three residents of that country listens to digital radio. Danmarks Radio (DR) has recommended a full nationwide conversion from FM radio to digital radio no later than In Denmark, 1.3 million households currently have a DAB radio at home. Public service companies dominate the Danish radio market. There are also several commercial radio channels, but the competition for advertising revenues has been extremely tough. As a result, a number of companies have stopped broadcasting. 12

17 teracom group 2010 The competitive situation illustrates how important it is for us to focus on our terrestrial networks and their unique advantages and competitiveness. Crister Fritzson President and CEO, Teracom Group Operations 13

18 TV CHANNELS SVT1 SVT1 HD SVT2 SVT2 HD SVT 24 SVTB Kunskapskanalen TV6 TV Finland TV3 TV3 HD Kanal 5 Kanal 5 HD TV10 TV11 TV4 TV4+ TV4 HD TV4 FILM TV4 FAKTA TV4 SPORT TV8 Kanal 9 Eurosport Eurosport 2 Discovery Channel TLC Comedy Central MTV Vh1 TCM Silver CNN Nickelodeon Disney Channel Canal+ HD Canal+ Series Canal+ First Canal+ Hits Canal+ Sport 1 SF-Kanalen TNT 7 Animal Planet Discovery Science Star! Showtime BBC World Cartoon Network Disney XD Kanal Global Axess TV National Geographic Channel HD MTVN HD 24Corren 24.UNT. RADIO Sveriges Radio (SR) FM Radio: P1, P2, P3, P4 (local radio in all counties), Din gata and Metropol Digital Radio: SR Atlas, P3 Star, SR Klassiskt, SR Minnen, SR P1, Radioapans knattekanal, P7 Sisuradio MTG Radio: RIX FM, Lugna Favoriter, NRJ, STAR FM and Bandit SBS Radio: Mix Megapol

19 teracom group 2010 Sweden The Swedish TV market consists of approximately 4.9 million households. Of this number, approximately 350,000 households watch free TV. The remaining 4.5 million households have some form of Pay-TV. TV viewing in Sweden has increased somewhat and it is currently almost 3 hours per day, per person, which is slightly lower than per capital TV viewing in Denmark and Finland. For radio, the average listening time for the entire population is almost 2.5 hours per day. A few large operators dominate the Swedish TV market. Besides Boxer Sweden, the largest operators are Comhem (cable TV), Viasat (satellite TV), Canal Digital (primarily cable and satellite, but also broadband TV) and Telia (broadband TV). Two other major competitors are Telenor, which offers broadband TV via Bredbandsbolaget and Tele 2, which offers cable TV. Share of sales Teracom Sweden 42% Boxer Sweden 58% Number of Pay-TV customers 636,449 Customer satisfaction Teracom Sweden 66.0 Customer satisfaction Boxer Sweden 67.4 Read more about the survey at Average number of employees: Teracom Sweden: 506 Boxer Sweden: 74 Teracom Sweden is essentially the only provider of terrestrial radio and digital TV in Sweden. Its customers include Sveriges Radio and Sveriges Television (both public service companies), TV operators and production companies. The Swedish Pay-TV offering via the terrestrial network is delivered by Boxer Sweden, and in addition to TV broadcasting, Teracom Sweden offers service, co-location and capacity services. 15

20 teracom group 2010 Sweden The Teracom Group s operations in Sweden In Sweden, the Teracom Group s Pay-TV offering is delivered via the terrestrial network by Boxer Sweden. Teracom Sweden, on the other hand, owns and operates the Swedish terrestrial network, which broadcasts both radio and TV. Boxer Sweden offers attractive program packages at competitive prices and it currently offers 40 Pay-TV channels that have been allocated to several program packages. One-third of all Swedish households watch TV via the terrestrial network and the digital terrestrial network reaches at most 99.8 percent of the country s households. Teracom Sweden has Sweden s most comprehensive media network for national and radio broadcasting of radio and TV. It is comprised of 54 major stations and approximately 700 other facilities in the terrestrial network. Teracom Sweden also offers co-location in masts and other facilities, as well as capacity and service. The Kaknäs tower in Stockholm is the terrestrial network s media hub. All reception and packaging of signals for TV and radio broadcasting pass through this hub. The media hub receives high quality signals and then sends out the material in the requested format to the platform designated by the customer, which might be in Sweden, another Nordic country or elsewhere in the world. Distribution occurs via Teracom Sweden s own digital TV network, broadband, radio networks, satellite and fiber. Flexible terrestrial broadcasting appeals to advertisers In 1956, Teracom started transmitting the very first TV signals in Sweden and much has happened since then. The launch of new products has strengthened the position of the terrestrial network. Customers are continually demanding better picture and sound quality and one of the terrestrial network s biggest strengths is, in fact, high quality. It also offers viewers wide coverage and simplicity. The only thing required to receive the TV signals wirelessly is an antenna. Another advantage of terrestrial TV is its portability, i.e. the ability to take the receiver and program selection with you wherever you go, e.g. a recreational boat or caravan. The content in the terrestrial TV network can be divided up into regional and national broadcasts. This is a prerequisite for being able to send local content and commercials, which appeals to many advertisers. HDTV in the terrestrial network The digital transition of the terrestrial network has made it possible to develop new services and program concepts for TV. It has also paved the way for HDTV. HDTV was launched on 1 November 2010, at which time approximately 70 percent of the popu lation had access via the terrestrial network. The lead time from the decision to the actual launch of HDTV in the terrestrial network has been quite short. The entire Swedish portion of the Teracom Group has 16