'04 was Record Year for DTV Sales

Manufacturers sold 49.3 million digital TV receivers--digital satellite, cable and terrestrial STBs, IPTV STBS and iDTVs--across the globe in 2004, according to research from Strategy Analytics, Connected Home Devices service, a global research and consulting firm.

This 50 percent surge in sales is an all-time record. As demand increases and new services are launched the research indicates that the numbers are certain to continue this upward trend.

Strategy Analytics predicts that 2005 sales of digital TV receivers will grow 38 percent, to 68.2 million units. By 2010, the Boston-based firm asserts that sales will reach 181.3 million units, worth approximately $39.1 billion in retail revenues.