HDTV Will Constitute 70% Of TV Sales By 2010.

JupiterResearch announced the publication of its HDTV forecast for the U.S. entitled “U.S. HDTV Forecast 2005 to 2010: Managing Consumer Perceptions to Gain Market Share,” which presents JupiterResearch’s latest projections of the growth of HDTV and specific display technologies in the American market. According to the report, HDTV will experience significant growth in the United States over the next five years. By the end of 2004, HDTV sets made up 21% of overall TV sales; that number will rise to 70% of overall TV sales by the end of 2010. Additionally, 63% of U.S. TV households will have an HDTV set by 2010.

“After a slow start, HDTV is beginning to generate real consumer appeal. We attribute this to the increase availability of HD content as well as the growing number of HD sets available at retail,” said Joni Blecher, associate analyst at JupiterResearch. ÒConsumers traditionally think of TV purchases as a long term investment and are seeking a replacement in the home that has longevity and will work with the future digital TV standards,” added Blecher.

The JupiterResearch report also addresses the multiple display technologies that support HDTV, dividing them into four categories: Plasma, LCD, Direct-view CRT and Projection. JupiterResearch forecasts LCD flat screens and projection displays will make up the majority of U.S. sales by 2010.

“With prices dropping, greater prominence in the retail channel and the impact of the FCC’s digital tuner mandate on manufacturers, we are forecasting a steady increase in HDTV unit sales over the next five years,” said David Schatsky, Senior Vice President of Research at JupiterResearch.