Set-top business rides out downturn

Global set-top box shipments increased by 18% year-on-year in 2009, despite the economic downturn, thanks for the most part to analogue switchover in key markets, according to IMS Research.

Shipments of hybrid set-tops grew by 27% over 2008, according to IMS, with the majority going to hybrid satellite pay-TV deployments. Integrated digital TV sales grew by 33%. IMS expects a slight decline in box shipments in 2010 and 2011.