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Worldwide Market for Digital Satellite STBs

The pay direct-to-home (DTH) television industry is characterized by two broad growth patterns -- maturing markets with decaying rates and high growth emerging markets, according to the latest market study by In-Stat.

In mature markets, growth will come from premium services -- HD and DVR/PVR -- while emerging high growth markets will experience a period of relatively robust subscriber acquisition likely followed by consolidation and a gradual decay in the growth rate, the high-tech market research firm says.

Within mature markets, demand for set-top boxes is expected to soften, if not decline. These markets will have growth in the number of premium boxes, and to some extent, these units will bolster the market, although with subscriber churn, gross adds declining, and leasing business models, the overall demand will fall over time.

Asia-Pacific has the highest growth potential in the coming years, as India expands and there is the prospect of a relatively large Chinese market.

The In-Stat research covers the worldwide market for digital satellite set-top boxes. It provides worldwide and regional forecasts for unit shipments, average selling prices, and revenue by set-top type, including DVR and HD models, through 2012. It includes extensive analysis of regional markets, standards, distribution, and technologies.

In-Stat market study found the following:

- The growing number of premium services and related boxes are creating a favorable product mix with higher ASPs.

- DTH set-top box unit shipments in 2008 are expected to eclipse 80 million, growing to a peak of 83.5 million in 2010.

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