Since 2006 and the launch of the VOO brand by Tecteo and Brutélé, cable in Wallonia has changed considerably. In 2007, 8 intermunicipal cooperations were bought out and blended together, which resulted in an operator with a significant size in Wallonia and Brussels, with 1.3 million subscribers. The integration of BeTV opened the way for the launch of a digital decoder. This summer's offensive with the new VOOcorder now comes to concrete expression with triple play offers.

The available selection of digital decoders in Belgium, and their capacities in terms of new services, was not very impressive in the past few years. This seems to change now, among other things thanks to the VOOcorder, a machine with a 320 GB hard disk (good for 150 hours of recording), equipped with an HDMI plug and a digital optical audio port for Home Cinema. It also possesses a double tuner in response to an important demand by the public, namely to be able to view a TV programme while recording another, and even to record 2 programmes while watching a third recorded programme. Also, the capacities of high bandwidth cable make it possible to distribute more than 120 digital chains, to offer internet without slowing down as well as telephony. VOO's strategy is based on these strong points as well as on the possibility to connect multiple televisions in a single home. VOO also insists on the speed of its decoder in terms of loading and a very quick changing of channels.

Commercially VOO's offer aims for a simple approach of a complex market. By creating the 'Trio packs' and the 'Duo packs' they leave the possibility to reach just as many target groups, namely 5 with the combinations of triple pay for large, average and small consumption and dual packs for large and small consumption. Among the new services it is important to point out HDTV with quality channels such as TF1 HD, France 2 HD, Ushuaïa TV HD, 13e Rue HD and Eurosport HD. VOD will probably also be a hit with its film catalogue and the possibility to rewatch programmes such as the news broadcasts, etc.

Evidently digital distribution in Belgium has finally reached a decent technical display and now the battles in the domains of content, services and marketing are multiplying. We will follow up these experiences and see how the consumer takes advantage of this novelty.

Benoît RENSONNET