Consumers in developing nations with increasing personal-spending options -- mostly in the Asia-Pacific region -- will accelerate demand for digital technology, including HD channels and set- top boxes with DVR and VOD, according to a recent study from ABI Research.

The New York City-based analyst said the trend will be driven largely by China, which boasts more than 1.3 billion consumers, and which will produce the region's largest increase in subscriber numbers in the next few years.

According to the study, "The Asia-Pacific pay TV industry still has considerable room for growth, especially in countries like China and India, where the base of potential customers is huge but (where) there is still relatively low [VOD] and digital penetration," ABI said.

China will host the 2008 summer Olympics and is promising to broadcast HD coverage of events throughout much of the country.

ABI Research's study focused on Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and India.