Digital video recorders (DVR) are finally reaching the masses despite a slow start, says new research carried out by technology analysts at IDC.
The report says it expects more than 28 million of the devices, which use an internal hard drive to record programmes, to be shipped worldwide by the end of 2008.
Credit for breaking through to consumers and spurring numbers on must go to US cable and satellite TV providers, says IDC. These companies have invested heavily in the DVR enabled set-top boxes. Greg Ireland, senior research analyst said: “Consumers are finally beginning to get it. DVR vendors are getting through to people and showing them that these devices are more than just high-priced VCRs.”
However despite Ireland’s enthusiasm only 3.2 million US households currently own a DVR. The US DVR market has generated heated competition between cable and satellite television providers. Firstly, cable offered video-on-demand and satellite topped this by pushing DVRs, but now cable is being forced to respond.
The market in Western Europe is resembling the US, with pay TV providers being relied on to increase DVR penetration. In Japan things are quite different as DVR/DVD recorders set the market on fire. It is expected that 11.3 million of these combo devices will be shipped worldwide by 2008, with nearly 80% of shipments happening outside the US.
IDC also forecasts that the standalone DVR market will decline towards the second half of 2008 and the combo recorder will continue to grow and account for nearly 40% of the entire worldwide market.
Related Links
