IFA 2009 – BERLIN. German consumers are getting ready for HD television, according to the latest market figures.
Dr. Rainer Hecker, speaking at the opening press conference of the IFA, said this year about 7.2 million HD ready and full HD screens will be sold; of these, two million will be integrated television sets.
More importantly, the total of HD capable receivers will be around 4.2 million. In addition to the two million IDTVs, there will be 0.7 million HD set-top boxes for satellite reception, 300,000 HD cable tuners and one million IPTV set-tops for HD.
“With the public broadcasters starting regular HD broadcasts form February 2010, we will see an acceleration of high definition,” Hecker said. He also noted the new HD channels from Sky Deutschland and the introduction of the HD+ platform with private broadcasters RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 on board.
Hecker in addition noted that the prospects of the German consumer electronics market look good. Europe-wide, this year will see a decrease of minus 9%, as predicted by market research organisation GfK, but for Germany “the market will remain stable.”
Dr. Christian Goeke, MD of the Messe Berlin, said IFA continues to be a success story, with 1,164 exhibitors from around the world.
There are fewer companies from Hong Kong and Taiwan, but the number of Chinese companies has dramatically increased.
