Ten million homes around the world were watching HDTV programming on a high-definition TV as of March 2005, according to a report from market researcher In-Stat.
By the end of 2005, there will be 15.5 million HD households. The rate of growth will continue to be strong over the next several years, and by 2009, HDTV households worldwide are forecasted to reach 52 million.
The In-Stat report, "Got HD? High-Def TV Service Now In Over 10 Million Homes," also found:
- HDTV services are widely available in only five countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States and South Korea.
- There are 4 million HDTV households in the United States, up from 1.6 million in March 2004.
- Forty-five percent of the worldwide HDTV households get their service from satellite. Terrestrial broadcasters and cable TV operators provide HD service to the remaining HDTV households.
- A survey of U.S. consumers showed that 76 percent of the respondents had watched HDTV programming on an HDTV set, although many said that they had simply seen an HDTV demonstration in a retail store.
For more information, visit www.instat.com/catalog/Ccatalogue.asp?id=39.
