Tight capital impacts DTT STB market
March 23, 2009
The global credit crunch could endanger many large digital terrestrial TV deployment projects, which require large amounts of financed capital, reports In-Stat. This could cause delays in DTT conversion programmes worldwide, with consumers purchasing fewer set-top boxes (STBs) as a result.
"Another scenario, however, is more upbeat for the STB market, noted Gerry Kaufhold, In-Stat analyst. ³The economic slowdown could spur governments to fund the DTT transition at an accelerated rate to stimulate the economy. By auctioning off the analogue spectrum, governments would receive income. Converting analogue spectrum for other uses will also spur new innovation and opportunity.
In-Stat’s recent study – Digital Terrestrial TV Set Top Boxes 2009: Analog Shutoff
Fuels Worldwide Market – indicates that: Total DTT STB unit shipments will peak at 44 million in 2009; Standard Definition DTT Set Top Box unit shipments will peak in 2011: The Component Value of Standard Definition DTT STBs will reach nearly $500 million in 201, with the European DTT STB market value peaking in 2011 at $1.6 billion.