Competition, falling prices and new regulations are set to spur on the number of high-definition television (HDTV) sets in US households over the next five years, according to a new report from Strategy Analytics.
The report predicts that by the end of this year there will be 14 million HD enabled sets in US homes, rising to 37 million by the end of 2008 – it is also expected that half of this figure will be receiving high-definition programming from cable, satellite and terrestrial providers.
Even with such rapid uptake expected, the global research firm still doubts that the government will fail to meet its goal of achieving full digital switch-over in the next five years.
Director of Strategy Analytics broadband media and communications practice, James Penhune said: “The next 12 months will be a critical period. At the same time, market factors are combining to promote demand for digital TV. These include a growing base of households with HD-capable displays and the increasing importance of HD programming services to cable and satellite operators competing for high-value subscribers.”
According to the Yankee Group, sales of HDTV monitors in the US are expected to grow from 3.2 million in 2003 to 20.2 million by 2008 (see Consumers Expected To Buy HDTV).
Earlier this month, the Digital Transition Coalition (DTC) spoke out about the US government’s approach to digital switch-over and said ‘DTV has a long distance to go before it becomes a reality’ (see US Feeling The Pressure Of Digital Switch-Over Target).
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