EU Upbeat on Podcasting and Digital Content

The area of digital and interactive content, that includes services like the online radio, digital music, digital video, online and mobile games will reach 8.3 billion euros in 2010, according to a report ordered by the European Commission. In that year, 2.4% of the European population (11 million people) will listen or watch at least one podcast a week, claims the report. The number of broadband users will double in the next three years and the number of people listening to digital radio will reach a penetration of 7%. The report claims that the main obstacle holding back the digitalization of Europe is the penetration of technologies that will allow consumers to access them, such as access to computers and broadband internet, digital television, etc. The issue of rights is cited as being another barrier. However, the study concludes that the development of the digital distribution market will overcome these obstacles.