Digital TV defies the recession

Digital TV homes are increasing rapidly despite the recent challenging economic conditions, according to Informa Telecoms & Media.

It forecasts 80 million new digital TV homes will be added this year. The total in western Europe will increase 11 million to 147 million while eastern Europe will go from 44 million to 56 million across the same period.

It will be Asia, however, that witnesses the most prolific growth in the next few years. At end-2008 Asia Pacific had a similar number of digital TV homes as western Europe and North America – about 100 million. Since then it has leapt ahead and will continue to extend its lead, accounting for 47% of all digital homes by 2015. China will account for 135 million of the 385 million digital TV homes expected between now and 2015.