WHEN IT COMES TO consumer electronics of late, the digital set top box has been one of the hottest sellers worldwide.
Strong demand from free-to-air satellite service, coupled with the expanding availability of digital cable TV and IPTV services, fueled a record-setting number of digital set top box unit shipments, says market research company In-Stat.
Worldwide digital set top box unit shipments reached 143 million in 2007, up 18% over 2006. Satellite set top box unit shipments accounted for just over half of all global digital set top box unit shipments last year, while digital cable set top boxes made up 29% of total unit shipments.
Worldwide digital set top box product revenues hit $14 billion in 2007, an increase of $3 billion over 2006 revenues.
The market for semiconductor components inside digital set top boxes also grew significantly in 2007. The total value of semiconductors embedded in digital set top boxes increased to $7.7 billion in 2007.
