PVR market growth slowing, according to In-Stat report

January 15, 2008 – The worldwide Personal Video Recorder (PVR) market is starting to show signs of maturing, according to a new report from In-Stat, as growth is beginning to slow down.

The report, called “PVR Products: The Market Matures”, states that the market’s maturity is indicated by the expanding geographic availability of PVR products, particularly in Europe and Asia, and a levelling out of both PVR unit shipments and product revenues.  PVR product shipments are forecast to exceed 22.6mn this year, compared to 19.6mn in 2007.

“Long-term prospects for the market remain bright, as strong demand from pay-TV service providers for PVR-enabled digital set-top box products will sustain growth,” said Mike Paxton, analyst for In-Stat.

The report adds that the worldwide installed base of PVR products was on track to reach 44.6mn at the end of last year, up from 33.9mn at the end of 2006.  TiVo remains the top PVR service provider, measured by total service subscribers, followed by EchoStar, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and BSkyB.

By 2011, annual worldwide PVR product unit shipments are projected to reach 31.6mn.