One in six households in the US now has at least one high definition capable television (HDTV), a quick increase from about one out of every fourteen households just two years ago, according to new research from Leichtman Research Group (LGR).
LGR’s research reveals that the mean annual household income of HDTV households is 42% above the US average, whilst 26% of households with annual incomes of over $50,000 have an HDTV compared to 7% of households with annual incomes below $50,000.
The research also shows that 26% of HDTV owners have more than one HDTV, up from 11% last year, and that 29% of HDTV owners are likely to get another HDTV in the next year, up from 18% in 2005.
However, only one-third of US adults have heard of the digital TV transition, scheduled for February 17, 2009.
Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, said: “Millions of HDTV sets have been sold in the US in the past year, and more homes than ever are actually watching HD programming.
“Yet even with the price of HD sets decreasing, we see that growth of HD is being driven by those who can most afford to buy one, which in an increasing number of instances includes households with more than one HDTV set.
“With just two and a half years to go before the digital TV transition takes place, two thirds of Americans remain unaware of the pending analogue cut off, helping to explain why this deadline has had little impact on the purchase of HD and digital TVs to date.”
| Annual Household Income |
Have an HDTV |
| Under $30,000 |
6% |
| $30,000 – $50,000 |
8% |
| $50,000 – $75,000 |
17% |
| $75,000 – $100,000 |
25% |
| Over $100,000 |
38% |
A recent report from Datamonitor said that almost 20% of US households owned an HD capable HDTV by the end of 2005, whilst in contrast there were only around 2 million HD ready households in Europe at the same time (see UK Only Country In Europe With Over 50% DTV Services).
Meanwhile, In-Stat predict that the number of households with HDTV services are projected to grow from 15 million in mid-2006 to 20.3 million at the end of 2006 (see HDTV Households To Reach 20 Million By End Of 2006).
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