Digital TVs Vie to Bring Internet Connectivity to the Living Room

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With digital televisions (DTVs) supplanting analog models in much of the world, manufacturers are adding new features such as Internet connectivity and wireless HD capability to broaden their appeal, reports In-Stat.

“DTVs are competing with computers to be the entertainment hub of the home,” says Brian O’Rourke, In-Stat analyst. “Sets with Internet connectivity are already commercially available in the US, Europe, and Japan. Models from Hitachi, LG Electronics, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony Corp. can connect directly to the Internet without a home computer.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• 36% of digital sets sold in 2013 will be network-enabled.
• DTV Revenue in Asia-Pacific will see a 6.3% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2008 to 2013, the fastest growth among the major regions, except for Rest-of-World.
• DTVs are now the only TVs available in most of North America, Western Europe, and Japan.
• Silicon TV tuners capable of demodulating both analog and digital television signals in a single chipset are beginning to replace Can TV tuners in high-end models.

Recent In-Stat research, DTV 2009: Declining Costs, Increasing Shipments, and Network Capability (#IN0904544ME), covers the worldwide market for digital television. It includes:

• Examination of the overall market and DTV features.
• Worldwide and regional DTV forecasts through 2013.
• Component and bill of materials forecasts through 2013.
• Analysis of emerging trends.