HD presence grows in Asia/Pacific region

Despite significant barriers for widespread HDTV content delivery in the Asia/Pacific region, total consumer revenue from HDTV content broadcasted in the region will jump from $3.2 billion in 2006 to $8.06 billon by 2012, according to research firm In-Stat.

More than 9.9 million TV households in five Asia/Pacific countries — Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore — received and watched HDTV programming by the end of 2006, In-Stat reported.

Among the findings of a new In-Stat report, "HDTV Content Development in Asia Pacific: The Achievable Dream" are:

• HDTV households in Asia/Pacific will reach 42.1 million by 2012;
• More than 8.5 million households in Japan received and watched HD service as of the end of 2006;
• HDTV content is being marketed as a premium in the region;
• Government initiatives are playing an important part in stimulating the transition from analog to digital in the free-to-air services domain.

For more information, visit www.in-stat.com.