p36-42,44,46,48 Euro 50 Muss-Wald NovDec08v5 7/11/08 13:39 Page 36
Euro 50 > Leaders in broadband and pay-TV Digital TV Europe
November/December 2008
Gene Musselman President and chief operating officer, UPC Broadband
In the past year Gene Musselman has over- and are laying the groundwork for additional
seen the launch of UPC’s new digital platforms launches in 2009. The demand for these serv-
in central and eastern Europe. ices has been truly impressive across our mar-
kets and we believe this is only the early days
Age 64 for digital TV; clearly this is an exciting product
with plenty of room for future growth. Another
Education Loyola University of Chicago; MA key achievement in 2008 was the launch of
in Industrial Relations EuroDOCSIS 3.0 speeds in the Netherlands. On
September 29, we brought 60Mbps and
Years in industry 29 years. 120Mbps to market and are in the process of
rolling these speeds out on a national basis.
Job description I’m responsible for the day-
to-day operation of all cable and DTH activities Reflections on the downturn The biggest
for UPC Broadband. This involves working with challenge will remain strong competition at
my executive team at the corporate and coun- the low end of the market. If the downturn
try-level to maintain an efficient operation, persists, we may see consumers becoming
deliver quality TV, internet and telephony serv- more price-sensitive and seeking low-cost, ming to our customers in an entirely new way.
ices to our customers and to ensure we contin- value-driven products. This means the industry Our success in the Netherlands with transac-
ue to meet our obligations to investors. may expect to see customers frequently tional VOD, catch-up TV, and subscription VOD
switching providers in search of the best deal. demonstrates that our subscribers value the
Last year’s highlights We’ve seen consider- ability to view their favourite programmes and
able progress in the development of our digital Positive thoughts for 2009 2009 is the movies via on-demand in addition to the regu-
TV business. Since January, we’ve launched year we anticipate digital TV to become a lar program schedules. 2009 will also see the
new digital platforms in Poland, Hungary and mainstream product for UPC. The platform will rollout of EuroDOCSIS 3.0 technology across
Romania, while expanding our product offer to continue to be rolled out across the national our footprint.
include DVR services in all 10 of our markets. footprints and advanced services such as DVR
Additionally, HD services are currently avail- and HD will remain a key component of the Personal aims for the year ahead My pri-
able in eight markets, with launches in customer proposition. VOD services will also mary focus is to guide UPC through this chal-
Romania and Ireland coming in the near be launched in four additional countries during lenging economic environment and ensure
future. We’ve also been tracking the success of 2009. This is a product I am particularly excit- that we remain an industry leader within all of
VOD in the Netherlands during its first year ed about as it enables us to deliver program- our markets.
Xavier Niel Founder and chief strategy officer, Iliad Telecom/Free
Xavier Niel is the founder of Free, one of Reflections on the downturn People need
Europe’s largest broadband and IPTV service more internet! As Free is the best bargain on
providers. The company’s business model of the French market, we will continue to grow.
charging customers a flat-fee of €29.99 has
proved successful and it now has over four Positive thoughts for 2009 Return to
million subscribers in France. This year, the basics! In difficult times you focus on what you
company completed the acquisition of really need and that is good for Free.
Telecom Italia’s French subsidiary Alice, giving
it an additional 850,000 subscribers and a Personal aims for the year ahead To con-
25.5% share of the French ADSL market. tinue to improve what we bring to the French
consumers. My dream would be to replicate
Age 41 what we successfully did in the internet mar-
ket in the mobile business.
Education Self-taught.
Favourite TV show Beauty and the Geek –
Years in industry More than 20 years. imagine why!
Visit us at www.digitaltveurope.net
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