Actual DTV Sales In 2000 Surpass Estimates

With Reaffirmed Standard, DTV Sales Poised For More Growth In 2001

2-Feb-01

Speaking at a meeting of the Association of Local Television Stations (ALTV) in Las Vegas, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President and CEO Gary Shapiro announced that actual unit sales to dealers of digital television (DTV) displays and integrated sets reached 648,429 in 2000, surpassing earlier industry estimates and accounting for $1.4 billion. These figures represent more than 400 percent growth over 1999 sales. In addition, 36,794 standalone set-top receivers were sold to dealers in 2000.""2000 sales exceeded expectations and demonstrate the robust consumer interest in DTV,"" said Shapiro. ""With an increasing variety of products expected in 2001 and the certainty of a reaffirmed broadcast standard, 2001 is going to be another extraordinary year for DTV.""A recent resolution of the Association for Maximum Service Television (MSTV) Board of Directors and the National Association of Broadcasters' (NAB) Television Board reaffirmed the 8-VSB DTV standard, and is expected to boost consumer confidence and tuner sales. CEA projects unit sales of DTV sets and displays will show 80 percent growth in 2001, reaching 1.125 million. 2001 dollar sales are expected to reach $2.1 billion. Early unit sales growth of DTV is better than many of the industry's most successful products and consumer dollar investment in DTV - nearly $5 billion by the end of 2001 - is exceeding that of other blockbuster CE products. Annual unit sales growth and dollar sales for DTV during its first four years on the market (1998-2001) is projected to surpass that of computers, VCRs, CD players and color TVs.DTV was launched at retail in late 1998. Unit sales of sets and monitors reached approximately 14,000 in 1998 and 121,000 in 1999. CEA projects sales of DTV sets and displays to continue rapid growth in the coming years, with unit sales of 2.1 million in 2002, 4 million in 2003, 5.4 million in 2004, 8 million in 2005 and 10.5 million in 2006.Source: CEA