Almost 14% of TV households in the US are equipped with an HDTV set and HD tuner capable of receiving signals in high definition, whilst more than 11% are equipped with an HDTV and HD tuner and receive at least one HD network or station, according to the Nielsen Company.
Los Angeles has the highest penetration of HD-capable homes, or around 20.5%, and New York has the highest penetration of HD-receivable homes at 17.5%. Of 112.8 million total TV households, 15.5 million are HD capable and 12.7 million are HD receivable.
In the US HD programming is available via DTH platforms DirecTV and DISH Network, via cable systems and via DTT.
An earlier Nielsen survey found that HD set owners are much more satisfied with the picture quality of HD television than they are with the amount or selection of HD programming. Discovery HD is perceived as having the best picture.
According to Nielsen Media Research’s 2007 High Definition Survey, 85% of HD owners gave a 4 or 5 rating (with 5 meaning “excellent” and 1 meaning “poor”) for picture quality, but only 39% provided the same rating for programming selection.
Women were slightly more positive about HD picture quality than men. There was no difference among cable vs. satellite subscribers. Respondents, in general, were less happy with the actual number of HD channels they receive, as fewer than 40% were somewhat or very satisfied with the amount or selection of HD programming. Women and older respondents – ages 50-plus – were most positive, while those with a HD-DVR unit were least satisfied with the HD channel selection.
Sports and movies are the categories most frequently watched in HD with only 12% of respondents indicating that they never watch movies in HD at home. Music and reality shows are the least frequently watched HD content.
In Britain, forecasts by Strategy Analytics predict that 90% of UK homes will be watching HDTV by 2020, as long as Ofcom allocates spectrum on the DTT platform for HDTV (see 90% Of UK Homes Could Be Watching HDTV By 2020).
In other research, Strategy Analytics forecast that European sales of HDTV and video devices will grow by 158% this year, reaching 28.1 million units (see European Sales Of HDTV Devices To Reach 28.1 Million Units) .
Meanwhile, Screen Digest predicted that there will be up to 82 million European HD ready households by 2010 (48% of TV households) (see European HD Market To Grow).
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