The overall worldwide value of PC-TV tuner products and digital terrestrial set top boxes will grow to more than $3.8 billion in 2008, according to a new report from High-tech market research firm In-Stat/MDR.
PC-TV tuners let consumers tune-in television programs, and then capture, store, manage and distribute a wide range of video content on their PCs. They are key components in the rapidly emerging market for Entertainment-PCs.
New, high-performance Entertainment-PCs (E-PCs) are likely to usher in video, audio, multimedia, and communications applications. Microsoft's Media Center PCs, and new Media Center PC Extenders, will add further impetus to growth.
International markets will be key, according to In-Stat/MDR. Digital terrestrial set top boxes use similar technology, and will enjoy strong growth in Europe and Asia.
Gerry Kaufhold, a principal analyst with In-Stat/MDR, said Dotcast's new e-Field antenna is a major breakthrough because it improves how well consumers can tune in local analog and digital broadcast signals.
E-PCs will define a class of PCs that include a PC-TV tuner and a hard disk drive, and then evolve to include multiple PC-TV tuners, different types of tuners (analog, digital, cable TV, satellite), massive disk storage, DVD recording capabilities, HD video and surround sound audio outputs, HD-DVD recording capabilities, in-home network capabilities, and broadband external network capabilities.
Highlights of the In-Stat/MDR report include:
- The PC-TV tuner market, which is based on PCI add-in card products, will evolve to include PC-TV tuner products built into computer motherboards. Intel, Microsoft, HP, Toshiba, NEC, Sony, Dell, Gateway, Shuttle, MSI, and other PC manufacturers, will push multiple PC-TV tuners for both analog TV and digital TV reception onto E-PC motherboards and portable notebook PCs.
- Europe will continue to lead the market for analog PC-TV tuner products and digital terrestrial set-top boxes. Asia is climbing toward second place.
- Digital terrestrial set top boxes will consume $1.6 billion worth of semiconductors and other components during 2008.
The report, “Digital TV Coming Home On PC-TV Tuners And Digital Terrestrial Set Top Boxes” is available from In-Stat/MDR.
