Nielsen Releases High Definition TV (HDTV) Universe Estimates for Total U.S. and Local People Meter Markets

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007
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DMA Media Related Universe Estimates Also Reported

New York, NY — The Nielsen Company today announced that 13.7% of TV households in the U.S. are equipped with an HD television and HD tuner capable of receiving signals in HD (HD Capable), while 11.3% are equipped with an HD television and HD tuner and receive at least one HD network or station (HD Receivable).

Los Angeles has the highest penetration of HD Capable homes (20.4%) and New York has the highest penetration of HD Receivable homes (17.5%). Nielsen also reports that among U.S. Hispanic or Latino households, 10.4% are HD Capable and 8.2% are HD Receivable. Among African-American households, 8.1% are HD Capable and 6.9% are HD Receivable.

The following table displays the High Definition (HD) Television Household Estimates for the Total U.S. and Local People Meter markets.

High Definition (HD) Television Household Estimates – November 2007

  TV HHs HD Capable % HD Receivable %
Total U.S. 112,880,000 15,500,000 13.7 12,730,000 11.3
New York 7,391,940 1,334,840 18.1 1,293,790 17.5
Philadelphia 2,939,950 457,900 15.6 438,110 14.9
Detroit 1,925,460 238,830 12.4 212,370 11.0
Boston (Manchester) 2,393,960 399,440 16.7 388,350 16.2
Washington, DC (Hagrstwn) 2,308,290 447,160 19.4 387,680 16.8
Atlanta 2,310,490 345,680 15.0 287,710 12.5
Tampa-St. Pete (Sarasota) 1,783,910 296,300 16.6 277,970 15.6
Chicago 3,469,110 585,960 16.9 485,580 14.0
Houston 2,050,550 344,260 16.8 270,820 13.2
Dallas-Ft. Worth 2,435,600 425,420 17.5 364,850 15.0
Los Angeles 5,647,440 1,152,380 20.4 965,200 17.1
San Francisco-Oak-San Jose 2,419,440 397,860 16.4 320,740 13.3
Seattle-Tacoma 1,782,040 255,960 14.4 216,530 12.2

Nielsen’s HDTV household estimates are based on Nielsen samples and are updated four times a year. The HDTV estimates are based on in-home collection by Nielsen’s Field staff in metered samples and are currently limited to National and Local People Meter samples. Nielsen plans to release HDTV household estimates for the remaining Area Probability Set-Meter markets in February 2008. Nielsen also plans to release HDTV household estimates for Telephone Frame Meter Markets although the timeline for this release has not yet been finalized.