Standard definition switch-off in sight

High definition TV penetration in mature TV markets will soon reach a level that means broadcasters and pay TV operators can consider ending standard definition broadcasts, according to new research.

HD-ready penetration will double from 25.9% at end-2011 to 50.9% in 2016. However, HD-ready penetration will be higher than 80% in 18 countries by 2016, Digital TV Research says.

Globally, the number of HD-ready TV homes will double between now and the end of 2016, taking the total to 652 million, according to Digital TV Research. The number of ‘HD-active’ homes will, meanwhile, treble across the same time period, reaching almost 500 million.