p20,22-26,28-230,32,34-35 Euro 50 Crimp-Mockr NovDec08 v4 7/11/08 13:19 Page 24
Euro 50 > Leaders in broadband and pay-TV Digital TV Europe
November/December 2008
Dieter Engel Vice-president, product development, T-Online Felix Graf
Senior vice-president, Enterainment
T-Home Entertain is the successful IPTV serv-
services, Swisscom
ice launched by German telco Deutsche
Telekom’s T-Com division, and it has gained
good traction passing 200,000 subscribers in Felix Graf successfully launched the first
mid-2008. In the competitive German market, Swiss IPTV service, Bluewin, in late 2006,
where much content is free-to-air and other which recently surpassed the 100,000 cus-
ISPs are starting to sharply discount the price tomer mark. In 2007 he was named a mem-
of IPTV services, this is no mean achievement. ber of the Young Global Leaders of the the
Dieter Engel has been instrumental in building World Economic Forum.
the service, which is based on the Microsoft
Mediaroom platform. Earlier this year, the plat- Age 41
form added new features such as the ability to
access photos and music stored on a PC via Education PhD in physics, summa cum laude.
the TV, and the ability to record shows via the
internet. Years in industry 10.
Mike Fries President and CEO, Liberty Global
Job description CEO. advantage. The plan is for it to be rolled out
across Europe by the end of next year. Digital
Last year’s highlights We continue to put TV is working – as a product and a business.
most of our energy into new products. We’re doubling ARPUs in most markets and
Demand for DVRs is way ahead of expecta- with the demand of HD, VOD and DVRs picking
tions. And while HD has not yet reached the up we should see continued growth in every
tipping point in Europe, it’s just a matter of country.
time. Broadcasters and cable channels who
want to remain relevant will have to make the Personal aims for the year ahead The main
move to HD. We also launched 100Mbps-plus goal will be to make sure the entire company
broadband speeds in Europe putting telcos on stays focused on our operating and financial
the defensive once again. opportunities. It’s easy to get distracted when
the environment around you seems so turbu-
Despite the economic downturn, Liberty Global Reflections on the downturn Our business lent. We should come out of this even stronger.
has succeeded in meeting its revenue and is stable, our balance sheet is strong and most
cash-flow targets so far this year, achieving a of our markets have experienced only limited Favourite TV show I generally watch sports
second quarter revenue increase of 25% and macroeconomic volatility. The last thing con- and news. Both are pretty easy to consume
operating cash-flow growth of 34%, and con- sumers think of doing at times like this is dis- while you’re working. My wife is the expert on
tinued to add new subscribers despite compe- connecting their PC and TV. Of course, the dramas and my kids are living the “VOD
tition. The operator has also continued to inno- mergers and acquisition market remains in a dream.”
vate, with new channel launches and the slumber. And it will be a long cold winter for
launch of high-speed internet services. our competitors at the lower end of the value Little-known fact I just joined a rock band
chain – financing will be hard to come by and consisting of five other middle-aged execu-
Age 45 consumers gravitate to quality at times like tives. Alas, no recording contract yet.
this. So we expect certain of our markets will
Education MBA Columbia University; BA get more rational. Life outside work With a 10 and a seven
Wesleyan University year-old, there isn’t much leisure time. When I
Positive thoughts for 2009 As I indicated find it, I’m still doing the same things – golfing,
Years in industry Our Chairman likes to say above, I think you’ll see some marginal players surfing, skiing, riding the motorcycle, etc. I’ve
“if you’re around long enough you’ll get to see disappear or be absorbed. That should be posi- moved from longer road races to shorter
everything twice.” After 20-plus years in the tive for our business. EuroDOCSIS 3.0 is a triathalons, largely at the request of my hip
business, I think I know what he means now. game changer and we will capitalise on that joints.
Visit us at www.digitaltveurope.net
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