Audio Video News

Digital television is in a period of rapid growth that will continue for years to come, according to a study released in late March by Informa Media Group, a London-based research firm. As many as 96.7 million households worldwide could be enjoying digital television by the end of the 2003, according to projections cited by the authors of TV International Sourcebook 2003.

The growth rate is likely to accelerate as more affordable DTV products begin to flood the market, almost certainly reaching the one billion level in 2004. The projection for 2003 is based on an increase of 15.5 million DTV users over the 2002 level.

Only about 10% of the world's population will have DTV by year's end, with the strongest growth area in North America, where as many as 50 million homes may have the technology—45 million of them in the US. The projected North American level would account for 51% of the world total. The second-highest proportion would belong to the United Kingdom, with 10.8 million digital homes.

In 2003, most viewers will receive their digital signals via satellite, from EchoStar and DirecTV in North America, and from British Sky Broadcasting PLC in the UK. Satellite services will supply 55 million (57%) of the total, or 57%. A serious move into digital by cable providers could alter that projection. Digital TV via cable could reach 37 million households worldwide by the end of the year, or 39% of the total. Digital cable added 9 million homes in 2003, the study notes.