The high-definition television (HDTV) segment in the SAARC region is expected to boom over the next three years, according to new research from Dataxis.
The report notes that the steady increase in HDTV subscribers and the number of HDTV channels in the region, driven by the digitization drive, could lead to robust growth in the segment.
The HDTV segment, both in terms of HDTV set-top box penetration and HDTV channels have witnessed steady growth in the last four quarters, with HDTV penetration in the SAARC countries reaching 4.2 million in the quarter ended March.
The number of HDTV broadcasts in the SAARC region in the last couple of years rose as more number of television houses launched HD channels buoyed by consumer demand for quality content.
The steady increase in HDTV penetration in the SAARC region is mainly due to India, which accounts for more than 90% of the total HD subscribers in the SAARC countries tracked in the report -- including Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In India, HDTV penetration is driven by DTH players, who are aggressively promoting HDTV STBs in the country.
Dataxis finds that DTH operators in India have seeded about 4 million STBs in the first quarter compared to less than 0.3 million HD STBs seeded by the MSOs in the same period.
Source: http://www.telecomasia.net/content/india-drives-hdtv-boom-south-asia
