Who’s Claiming The Global IPTV Top Dog Spot?

Ericsson almost certainly has ensured its position as the top global IPTV/multiscreen provider with its purchase of Microsoft’s Mediaroom for anywhere from $100 million to $230 million, according to industry reports. While Microsoft has said it never made a bundle from Mediaroom (relying more on its Xbox business), the Swedish giant says the deal gives it a 25-percent-plus market share but that it’s banking on even more, citing predictions of a universe of 76 million subs by year-end, growing to 105 million sometime in 2015. Comments Per Borgklint, senior vice president/Business Unit Support Solutions head at Ericsson, "Ericsson’s vision of the networked society foresees 50 billion devices to be connected via broadband, mobility and cloud. Future video distribution will have a similar impact on consumer behavior and consumption as mobile voice has had. This acquisition contributes to a leading position for Ericsson with more than 40 customers, serving over 11 million subscriber households.” Mediaroom users include AT&T U-verse, and Mediaroom-powered services reside on more than 22 million set-top boxes globally, Ericsson says.