MRG's new IPTV Market Leader Report March 2006 ranks about 60 different IPTV vendors in four different regional markets and globally, grouped into six different IPTV product categories. By using a new ranking system, the report gives a separate regional ranking to each company by product category, based on actual numbers of subscribers and video channels supported by that company's product(s). The report also provides an instant snapshot of the top 30 IPTV vendors, including a quick assessment about each company's growth prospects in the next two years. High-level findings include:

Ranked first globally for the Access Systems product category is NEC, with ECI ranking second. Tut ranks first globally and in North America in IPTV Video Headends (based on channels served), while SkyStream ranks second (globally). In Video On Demand servers, entone ranks first globally and Alcatel ranks second. Motorola ranks first in Set-top Boxes globally as well as in North America and Europe due to its recent acquisition of Kreatel, with Yuxing ranking second. Over 23 Set-top Box vendors are ranked. In Middleware, Thomson/Thales ranks first globally, and Orca ranks second. In IP TV Content Protection systems, Viaccess is first globally, and Widevine is second.

The report is based on a database of 370 service providers globally providing over 46 thousand video channels in Europe, Asia, North America, and Rest of World. "By ranking companies by actual subscribers and channels supported by their products," states Gary Schultz, MRG, Inc CEO, "this report is the first to provide granular company-level ranking for global and regional and product-type IPTV markets."

"Mergers and acquisitions are starting to have a significant impact on market positioning," states Bob Larribeau, IPTV Program Director for MRG. "Mergers like Motorola/Kreatel, Tandberg/Skystream, Thomson/Thales, and Cisco/Scientific Atlanta all reflect a dynamic trend toward consolidation that will impact regional and global market dominance."

The (51-page) IP TV Market Leaders Report-March 2006 is available in printed format for $3,995.00 US; as a Departmental PDF license for $5,200.00 US; and is available free as part of MRG's IPTV Tracking Service. For more information or to order the report, contact Rob Smith at 408-524-9767 or rsmith@mrgco.com, or visit www.mrgco.com.