1999 A Banner Year For DTV Sales
Digital Television Stakes Its Claim In The Consumer Electronics Marketplace
Factory-to-dealer sales of digital television (DTV) products closed out the year by posting a fifth consecutive month of growth in December. DTV sales last month surpassed 23,000 units, according to numbers released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The December sales figure brought total 1999 sales to 121,226 and total sales since the introduction of DTV (in August of 1998) to 134,402. DTV sales in December increased by five percent over Novemberís sales, to a one-month record of 23,745 units. Total fourth quarter DTV sales equaled 67,811 units, representing a 157 percent increase over third quarter sales, and 467 percent increase over second quarter sales. ""There can be no denying that DTV is the future of television. These sales figures show that consumer interest in DTV is growing everyday,"" said Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of CEA. ""In 1999, DTV became a retail reality. In 2000, expanded programming will be necessary to exponentially grow sales. We are thrilled at this prospect, and encourage everyone in this industry, from manufacturers to broadcasters, to help us continue the DTV momentum."" CEA projects that the first 10 million DTV units will be sold by 2003, the next 10 million in 2004 and 2005, and 10.8 million to be sold in 2006. Total Monthly DTV Sales ñ 1999 Jan Units - 3,652 Feb Units - 3,371 % Change Units - -8% Mar Units - 5,494 % Change Units - 63% Apr Units - 3,199 % Change Units - -42% May Units - 4,250 % Change Units - 33% Jun Units - 7,073 % Change Units - 66% Jul Units - 4,624 % Change Units - -35% Aug Units - 6,692 % Change Units - 45% Sep Units - 15,060 % Change Units - 125% Oct Units - 21,432 % Change Units - 42% Nov Units - 22,634 % Change Units - 6% Dec Units - 23,745 % Change Units - 5% Y-T-D Units - 121,226