High Definition Figures

Ten million homes around the world are now watching HDTV content at home. That number is expected to increase to 15.5 million by the end of 2005, according to the market research firm In-Stat.

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.

The study also found:

* 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 United States, up from 1.6 million in March 2004.
* Forty-five percent of the worldwide HDTV households get their service from a satellite TV service provider. Cable TV operators and terrestrial broadcasters provide high-def service to the remaining HDTV households.
* A survey of U.S. consumers showed that 76 percent 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.

For more information, visit http://www.in-stat.com.