As of March 2005, 10 million homes around the world were watching HDTV programming on a high-definition TV set.

By the end of 2005, the worldwide total of these HDTV service households is projected to reach 15.5 million, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). The rate of growth of HDTV households will continue to be strong over the next several years, and by 2009, HDTV households worldwide are forecasted to reach 52 million, according to the high-tech market research firm.

“Even with the rise in the number of HDTV households, there are still several market challenges slowing the spread of HDTV service,” says Mike Paxton, In-Stat analyst. “Foremost among these challenges are: the need for more HDTV content, continuing the education of the public about the benefits of HDTV, and widening the geographic availability of HDTV services, especially in Europe.”

A recent report by In-Stat also found the following:

• HDTV services are widely available in o­nly five countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States, and South Korea.
  
• There are currently 4 million HDTV households in the US, up from 1.6 million in March 2004.
  
• 45% of the worldwide HDTV households get their service from a satellite TV service provider. Terrestrial broadcasters and cable TV operators provide high-def service to the remaining HDTV households.
  
• A survey of US consumers showed that an amazing 76% of the respondents had watched HDTV programming o­n an HDTV set, although many of the respondents noted that they had simply seen a demonstration of HDTV in a retail store.

The report, Got HD? High-Def TV Service Now In Over 10 Million Homes (#IN0501899MB), looks at availability of high-definition television services around the world. It covers market and industry drivers for HDTV service subscribers, profiles existing HDTV service providers, and provides the results of a US consumer survey about the use of, and knowledge of, HDTV services. The report also provides five-year forecasts for worldwide HDTV households by transmission platform (satellite, cable, and terrestrial), worldwide HDTV households by geographic region, US HDTV households, and the installed base of US HDTV sets.