46% of US households have HDTV sets
New research from Leichtman Research Group has found that 46% of households in the United States have at least one HDTV set – around double the percentage reported two years ago.
The findings, based on a survey of 1,300 households throughout the US, also reveal that 38% of HDTV owners have more than one HDTV set, with 6% of HDTV owners switching video providers because of HD.
LRG estimates that about 64% of all HD households are now watching HD programming from a multi-channel video provider – up from 58% last year. However, about 14% of individuals with an HDTV continue think that they are watching HD programming, but are not.
Bruce Leichtman, LRG president and principal analyst, said: “With the cost of HDTV sets decreasing, HD penetration grew across all incomes groups over the past year.
“Lower prices also helped to expand the number of HDTV sets in many homes – multiple HD sets account for about 35% of all HD sets in US households.”
Informa Telecoms & Media recently predicted that HDTV will reach a tipping point in 2010, although platforms will need to increase channels to win over subscribers.
Elsewhere, a report from Adams Media Research predicted that the number of HD-ready households will hit 84% in 2012.