Singapore – New data from ABI Research predicts a 32 per cent annual increase in the number of subscribers to IPTV platforms over the next six years to nearly 79 million subscribers globally by the end of 2014. The report indicates that while satellite and cable TV platforms are likely to retain their footholds in many markets around the world, the growth rate in their subscriber bases will slow as IPTV services take hold. Serene Fong, industry analyst at ABI Research said, “IPTV usage will initially be concentrated in countries with established high-speed internet technologies such as France, the Netherlands, South Korea and Hong Kong. But as technology progresses and matures, developing countries such as China will rapidly catch up in subscription numbers.” She added, “While we expect to see greater momentum in the telco TV segment in the years to come, this new television alternative is unlikely to completely replace legacy pay-television services immediately.”