LONDON, England – While only four per cent of global homes will actively watch high-definition TV programming by the end of 2008, this will represent nearly 44 million households. By 2012, 179 million homes around the world will be active HDTV viewers, which will represent 16% of households.
These are the latest forecast figures from Informa Telecoms & Media, a London, England-based market research firm. Informa’s global HDTV market report includes forecasts to 2012 for 40 countries, including Canada, as well as regional analysis of the market worldwide.
Looking at digital TV households in North America specifically, Informa predicts 31% of digital TV homes will be active HDTV viewers by the end of 2008. The proportion of North American digital TV households actively watching HDTV programming by the end of 2012 will grow to 71 per cent, according to Informa.
“Following several false dawns, HDTV is finally on the brink of mass market acceptance,” Informa writes in its report. “Set and set-top box prices have fallen substantially in the last two years. National free-to-air (FTA) broadcasters are launching HD services, which will further stimulate take-up. Digital platforms now use HD channel provision as a differentiator against their competitors. Major sports events such as the Olympics and Euro 2008 have spurred FTA broadcasters to provide more HD programming.”
