31 July 2008

Set Top Box Market Booming

In the consumer electronics space, the digital set top box market has been one of the fastest growing market segments over the past decade, and 2007 was no exception, according to market research company In-Stat.

Strong demand from Free-to-Air satellite service, coupled with the expanding availability of digital cable TV and IPTV services, fueled a record-setting number of digital set top box unit shipments. Worldwide digital set top box unit shipments reached 143 million in 2007, up sharply from 121 million in 2006. Worldwide digital set top box product revenues hit $14 billion in 2007, an increase of $3 billion over 2006 revenues, according to In-Stat's figures.

The market for semiconductor components inside digital set top boxes also grew significantly last year. The total value of semiconductors embedded in digital set top boxes increased to $7.7 billion in 2007.

Satellite set top box unit shipments accounted for just over 50% of all global digital set top box unit shipments last year, while digital cable set top boxes made up 29% of total unit shipments.