Worldwide set-top shipments to grow despite rising numbers of connected TVs: report

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Worldwide set-top shipments are expected to reach 226 million units by 2015 despite a growing number of consumers in North America and Western Europe who are replacing set-top boxes with connected internet TVs.

"Cable boxes decline in the short term due to cable's failure to compete in the North American markets; however they grow in the long term due to significant numbers of new subscribers in China and, to a lesser extent, India," said ABI Research senior analyst Sam Rosen.

"Digital terrestrial (DTT) boxes see the largest platform growth worldwide as countries in Asia-Pacific and Latin America move through their digital transitions and toward analog shutoff (ASO) of broadcasts," remarked Rosen in a report released on October 11.

Standard Definition DVR's (digital video recorders) are expected to fade in to obscurity in North America and Western Europe in the near future said ABI, however the outdated technology will continue to have an extended life in Asia and Eastern Europe.

A report released on August 5 by market research firm iSuppli suggests global shipments of internet-enabled TVs will reach 27.7 million units in 2010. By 2014 internet TVs will account for 54 percent of the total flat-panel TV says iSuppli with an anticipated 148.3 million units shipped globally.