ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 5, 2006 -- High-definition television (HDTV) will outsell analog TV set units in 2006, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced yesterday. HDTV sets will outsell analog sets by 89 percent this year, with total unit sales of 15.9 million, and will contribute to more than $23 billion in total DTV revenue, it forecast.
This growth of DTV is reflected at the association's 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), being held this week in Las Vegas, where exhibitors are showcasing the world's largest flat panel displays, next-generation DTV products, technologies to enable consumers to view HDTV on the go, and a variety of other new products and technologies. DTV will also be a topic at several CES conference sessions.
CEA said growth of DTV sales grew 60 percent to $17 billion in 2005, due to the popularity and price declines of flat panel displays such as LCD and plasma. Combined, these displays accounted for 40 percent of all DTV sales by dollar. Analog and digital LCD TVs combined accounted for $3 billion and four million units. Plasma TVs sold nearly 2 million units for a total of $4 billion in sales, the CEA said.
"With more than 12 million units shipped, the 2005 year-end numbers demonstrate the growth and success of DTV, especially HDTV, which continues to claim 85 percent of the total DTV market in the US," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. "Legislation establishing a hard cutoff date for analog broadcasts will truly be the driver that tips the scales in 2006. A hard date will provide certainty to consumers, broadcasters, retailers and manufacturers and will help drive sales to even greater heights. CEA is hopeful that 2006 will bring the passage of this legislation."
A "Playing on Broadway 2009" conference session to be held today at CES will bring together leaders in the midst of the transition to digital. Moderated by Gary Arlen, president of Arlen Communications, the panel will include FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein; Kyle McSlarrow, president and CEO, National Cable and Telecommunications Association; Josh Sapan, president and CEO, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC; and CEA's Gary Shapiro.
On Friday, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and Shapiro will discuss the digital television transition, spectrum allocation and other issues critical to the consumer electronics industry.
Later this year, CEA will host an Entertainment Technology and Policy Summit in Washington (March 14-17) to explore HDTV policy issues.
For more information, visit: www.ce.org/events