HDTV switched on for growth

High Definition TV (HDTV) shipments are mushrooming as consumers catch on to the technology, analyst iSuppli has revealed.

In 2008, HDTVs overtook standard definition televisions as the top TV shipped globally. According to iSuppli’s latest figures, HDTV unit shipments will grow to 241.2 million by 2012, up from 97.1 million units in 2007.

Non-HDTV unit shipments will decline to 23.1 million units by 2012, down from 114.8 million units in 2007.

Sheri Greenspan, senior analyst for consumer electronics at iSuppli, said: “The technology is everywhere these days – on broadcast television, on cable, on satellite and on the internet. You can’t escape hearing about something being broadcast in HD or getting the most out of your HD receiver or the most HD channels available.”

In addition high definition set-top boxes (STB) are growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36 per cent, and will represent 50 per cent of the overall STB market by 2012.

Two factors are aiding that growth, the analyst claimed – firstly the expanding availability of HD content and secondly the declining cost to process HD video streams.

"This means the costs to providers to generate and deliver HD content is becoming minimal and that savings are being passed along to the eager consumers that are waiting anxiously to view HD on their TV or internet.”