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PVRs Finally Making Headway

PVRs Finally Making Headway

Personal video recorders (PVRs) are finally making headway, says a new report from market research firm Instat/MDR, as worldwide shipments tripled to 4.6 million last year.

The report says, that an increasing number of consumers are becoming aware of the benefits of time-shifted TV viewing and expects 11 million PVR shipments in 2004. Combination DVD/PVR products and PVR enabled satellite set top boxes are expected to continue to dominate the market and account for 80% of shipments.

Senior Analyst, Mike Paxton, said: “There are two primary reasons for the recent growth of PVR unit shipments. First, the integration of PVR capabilities into DVD players and recorders has been a big success. The second, has been the rising demand from satellite and cable TV operators for PVR-enabled set top boxes.”

PVRs have been around for five years but until recently consumers have failed to see why they need yet another set-top box hooked up to their TV, says Instat/MDR, but things look set to change.

Demand in Japan for the combination DVD/PVR has been especially strong and over half a million US households already have PVR enabled set top boxes installed, says the report.

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