The worldwide set top box revenues totalled $5.7 billion in 4Q10 as compared with $5.3 billion in the corresponding quarter of 2009, with IPTV set top box shipments increasing by 3.7 million in 2010.
However, according to a new report by In-Stat, the analyst says it has noted certain regional nuances, most significantly a migration from standard definition to high definition in more advanced makets such as Asia/Pacific and North America.
In Australia, the migration is however, yet to be seen. It is estimated that 30 percent of set top boxes are capable of receiving only standard definition channels, which means millions of households still cannot receive digital broadcasts.
Yesterday, ChannelNews revealed that the offending manufacturers are primarily vendors who don’t support Freeview, or lack an Internet port on the back of their set top box, that allows the device to be software upgrade
The current offering of HD channels on free to air TV also comprises just one channel from each of the five main TV networks in Australia, ABC, SBS, Nine, Seven and Ten.
With Victoria due to switch off its analogue broadcasts next month, the Australian Government is aiming to keep to its deadline of 2013 to complete the switch from analogue transmission to digital only.
