Nearly half of homes to buy 3D TV by 2015

Content and panel availability contribute to ongoing TV refresh

About 40 per cent of homes in Western Europe will own a 3D TV by 2015, according to predictions from analyst Futuresource Consulting.

Jim Bottoms, director and co-founder at Futuresource, said about 10 million TVs are sold annually in the UK, which has 25 million households.

"That means every home is going out and buying a TV every 2.5 years," he said.

With such elevated levels of consumption including purchases of additional TVs as well as replacements – and manufacturers introducing new technologies and features into their sets, especially 3D and connectivity – 3D can expect fairly rapid uptake and adoption, he explained.

"Nearly 40 per cent of homes in Western Europe will own a 3D TV by 2015, which equates to an installed base of nearly 65 million," Bottoms said. "Whether consumers use the [3D] feature or not, they will be buying it by default."

Where previously little 3D content was available, its growth and acceptance is now being driven by the broadcasters and content starting to proliferate around media including Blu-ray, he said, encouraging viewers to engage with and evaluate 3D offerings. In a year, the number of broadcasters planning to release 3D content has nearly tripled, he added.

Screens of 42in or larger have in the past three years become affordable for the "average" household, he claimed, building demand for large panels.

Additionally, early adopters of flat-panel TVs are now looking to replace their original set with a larger, more feature-rich model, opting for value-add features such as ultra-thin bezels, connectivity, energy-saving and 3D capability, Bottoms said.