CEA: More Than Half of U.S. Households Own a Digital TV Set

ARLINGTON, January 2: According to new research by the trade
organization Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), more than 50 percent of
U.S. households now own a digital television set (DTV), with manufacturers to
post an 11-percent revenue growth to more than $25 billion from sales of
digital television sets in 2007.

“I am proud to announce our nation has hit this digital
milestone,” said Gary Shapiro, the president and CEO of CEA. “With 50 percent
of U.S. homes able to experience the reality of digital television, we have
crossed a critical threshold. 2008 will continue to demonstrate the growth and
success of DTV, with nearly 32 million units forecasted to ship. Consumers are
particularly keen to add HDTV to their homes, with high definition expected to
account for 79 percent of total DTV shipments in the U.S. in 2008.”

The CEA also forecasts 13 percent revenue and 17 percent
unit sales growth for digital television in 2008. The new results were released
in the run-up to the 2008 International CES, a consumer technology tradeshow
that will take place from January 7 to 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to
the 2,700 exhibits on the show floor, DTV will be a hot topic at multiple
events and conference sessions, including a session on Monday, January 7,
entitled “Conversion to Digital TV: Government Coupon Program and Retailer
Participation.” There will also be a one-on-one conversation on Tuesday,
January 8, featuring FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and CEA’s Shapiro, who will
discuss their thoughts on the digital television transition, cable
compatibility, spectrum allocation and other issues critical to the consumer
electronics industry.

—By Irene Lew