Digital set-top box shipments to peak in North America in 2009 as DTT gains global growth

September 21, 2007 – Annual shipments of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT)-enabled set-top boxes (STBs) should peak in North America in 2009, according to a new study from ABI Research, while trends will be uneven in other parts of the world as the timing of the digital switchover from analogue broadcasts varies.

A decline in shipments of DTT-enabled STBs in Western Europe is expected over the next several years due to an earlier switchover than in most other parts of the world, however strong market growth is expected for 2007.  The Asia Pacific region is reported to be currently enjoying growth for DTT headend deployments, as telecom operators seek to partner with DTT service providers to enhance telco IPTV offerings.

“The spike in 2009 reflects a jump in North America and continued strong growth in Eastern Europe and the Middle East/Africa region,” stated Stan Schatt, Vice President and Research Director of ABI Research.  “After a subsequent decline, annual shipments again will increase in 2012, as the decline in annual DTT STB shipments stabilises and annual shipments of IP STBs with DTT capabilities continue to grow.”

The study, entitled ‘Digital Terrestrial and broadcasting Technologies: The Role of Digital Video in Over-the-Air TV Services’, also stated that the slight up-turn in demand forecast for 2012 in the Asia Pacific region reflects the start of DTT traction in China, and the steadying of shipments in Western Europe indicates the use of DTT in IP STBs offsetting declines in standalone DTT STBs.  “The timing of DTT rollouts will depend, in part, on digital switchover dates as well as the interest of telecom operators (many of whom are getting licences to be official DTT operators) in order to develop DTT systems to integrate into telco TV services,” Scatt added.