UK digital TV sales boom as credit crunch bites

Nine-out-of-ten sets sold are ready for TV switchover; Sales of digital TVs have hit record levels as cash-strapped households swap nights out for in-home entertainment

Figures released today by Digital UK show that in the year to October 2008, UK consumers bought nine million televisions. This figure is up almost 10 per cent on the same period in 2007. Ninety per cent of televisions purchased in October 2008 were digital, the highest proportion ever recorded.

Digital TV makes the prospect of a night in front of the box more attractive. Digital viewers can flick between more than 40 different channels, rather than the maximum of five offered by analogue television. Digital TV also offers interactive features and extra coverage of live events via the red button.

Figures published today provide further evidence of the popularity of digital TV in the UK, which has one of the highest rates of take-up in the world. Ofcom’s Digital Progress Report for the three months to the end of September 2008 shows 88.2 per cent of households have digital TV on their main set.

David Scott, Chief Executive of Digital UK, the independent body co-ordinating the UK’s switch to digital TV, commented: “With household budgets under pressure, the extra channels and features that come with digital TV offer great value entertainment. It’s also good news that in opting to buy digital, more households than ever are ready for the switch to digital TV which will affect more than five million homes next year.”

Buying a digital television is one of three main ways to go digital. You can also convert your existing TV with a digital box or opt for a digital service via satellite or cable. Digital UK advises buyers to look for the ‘digital tick’ logo which certifies products designed to continue working after switchover.

Notes:

1. Data from October 2008 retail results report from GfK, one of the largest market research companies in the world.

2. GfK’s report was compiled using point of sale data from more than 7,000 major multiple retailers in England, Scotland and Wales, including DSGi, Comet, Argos, Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, John Lewis, Amazon, as well as a representative sample of independent retailers.

Number of TVs sold (year to Oct 07) 8.2m
Number of TVs sold (year to Oct 08) 9.0m

Digital sets as a proportion of TVs sold (Oct 07) 68%
Digital sets as proportion of TVs sold (Oct 08) 90%

UK spend on digital TVs (year to Oct 07) £2.8bn
UK spend on digital TVs (year to Oct 08) £3.5bn