For some strange reason, we can't say we're surprised by the latest J.D. Power and Associates report. Maybe it's how LCD HDTVs seem to be highlighted in most retail locations, or maybe it's just because the negative burn-in stigma attached to earlier PDPs has yet to wear off. Whatever the case, said research firm has just produced an article claiming that "retail electronics salespersons are recommending LCD TVs instead of plasma TVs at a rate of more than three to one." The research focused on shoppers looking for sets 40-inches and up over the past six months, though it didn't specifically mention where it went undercover to source such data. Really though, it's not shocking to hear that B&M salespeople aren't totally adept at explaining pros and cons -- after all, we'd recommend doing your own independent research and ordering online -- but hopefully this will beat the message home to those who've been blindly believing anything they hear when shopping for a new set.

[Image courtesy of Exceptional Innovation]

Move over, 2012. 2010 is up first, and Aspen Optics is asserting that it'll be a banner year for fiber. Granted, we're taking all of this pretty lightly given the industry that it's in, but nevertheless, said company is proclaiming that FTTH (fiber to the home) will soon be known as FTEH (fiber to every home) while FTTO (fiber to the office) will morph into FTEO (fiber to every office). The proclamation does note that we're talking about "developed nations" here, and the release does tend to focus on the UAE in particular, but this provides good fodder for discussion if nothing else. Do you see fiber booming in just 18 months? We're guessing it'll take a few more years beyond that for it to really make a play for significant cable market share, but hey, we'd love to be wrong.

[Via Developing Telecoms]

Hot on the heels of our own poll asking you dear readers your opinion on HTPCs comes a new report from ABI Research asserting that all-in-one PCs and internet TV functionality "will fuel the nascent home theater PC market." More specifically, it's reported that more and more companies are cranking out compacted machines "with rich multimedia capabilities to appeal to new usage models around the home." Additionally, internet TV functionality packed within HDTVs is touted as something that could be "the next evolutionary plateau," although we -- and Mark Cuban, comically enough -- would beg to differ. All in all, it's tough to say what place an HTPC still has in the market (save for the niche that simply prefers a full-fledged PC in the living room), but integrating all of that functionality into an existing living room component won't be the easiest task.

Not even six full months after DirecTV rolled out its DVR Scheduler service, users have logged on via their mobile phones or online in order to schedule one million shows. For those unfamiliar, said service enables customers to tell their DVR to record a program without actually being near the DVR; so long as you've got a handset with data access or an outright internet connection, you're golden. Unsurprisingly, the most commonly recorded program via the service was SportsCenter, but we won't spoil the rest of the top 15 for you. So, how many times did you contribute to this number?

[Image courtesy of MyDigitalLife]

We suppose it's possible that you've missed out on all the fiber expansion going on here in the US, but even if so, you'd probably guess that programming competition in general is heating up. SNL Kagan has published new research that suggests that global multichannel hypercompetition is just around the bend, with 54 of the top 75 markets to see "four or more digital video distribution platforms" by 2013. The study focused on the continued deployment of FTTH, IPTV and DTH satellite, and it also noted that digital terrestrial television (DTT) and hybrid DTT-IP systems were "adding to the competitive mix." It's also no shock to learn that cable carriers are fighting all of this with SDV implementation, VOD offerings, bundle ("triple-play") deals and dynamic electronic program guides. Mmm, competition.

[Image courtesy of AT&T]

Hate to splash a handful of obvious right in your face, but Research and Markets' latest status report on the high-def industry is chock of full of "well, duh." Citing three crucial factors that will "support the successful migration to HDTV," it found that the continued penetration of HDTVs, supply of HD programming and availability of OTA HD as immensely important for industry growth. Most notably, the research keys in on Europe, which currently sees just 5% of its HDTV-owning population enjoying high-definition programming. It suggests that local carriers must take on the expense of boosting their HD lineups before customers will start buying in, and we must say we wholeheartedly agree. The folks also think that the looming analog cutover will act as a catalyst for OTA HD transmissions, but we're hoping a major uptick in HD adoption will occur on that side of the pond well before 2010 to 2012.

'Round these parts, we prefer to read the fine print first, so it should be noted that none other than Macrovision -- you know, the firm that purchased the now-cracked BD+ DRM scheme for $45 million last year -- financed this here study. According to poll results from US and UK consumers, around 1 in 3 individuals admitted to "making copies of pre-recorded DVDs in the past 6 months, up over a quarter from the previous year's study." Predictably, males aged 18 to 24 were most likely to wear an eye patch and own a DVD burner (if you catch our drift), and while revenue loss due to illegal copying is certainly a valid concern, researchers did find that 62% of American respondents (and 49% in the UK) were duping flicks they already owned. Arrr!

[Image courtesy of George Dillon]

Buried under predictions that 2012 will bring dominance for Blu-ray over DVD and breaking news that the PS3 just may have had a hand in winning the format war the Entertainment Merchant's Association 2008 Annual Report on the Home Entertainment Industry holds survey results showing 87% of PS3 owners reported they watch Blu-ray movies on their console. That's a stark contrast to last year's NPD survey indicating 60% of owners didn't even know it played them. We don't know what's behind the jump, be it better marketing/consumer education, or something wrong with how one the surveys were conducted. You can mull that one over during the fast money round while also peeping results that say 22% of HDTV owners think they're watching HD programming, but in fact are not -- not like we haven't heard that before.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

We've known that individuals were turning to the internet to catch their favorite shows for some time now, but we aren't living in the future just yet. According to new research conducted by Nielsen and CTAM, most adults (94%) who "subscribe to cable or satellite television services prefer to watch television on traditional TV sets." Still, over a third of those surveyed who had a broadband connection admitted to watching at least one television program originally shown on TV via the internet, and nearly 40% of online TV viewers also use the world wide web to "get the scoop on actors and upcoming episodes." For numbers galore on this very topic, head on down to the read link and have a look.

[Image courtesy of BebeReviews]

Let's get this straight. A Best Buy survey suggesting that the public isn't acting early on the imminent digital TV transition. From the same big box retailer accused of pushing ignorant citizens into buying unnecessary wares in order to maintain a signal post-2009. Righhht. For whatever it is (or isn't) worth, a recent survey from said retailer has found that 88-percent of respondents were "aware of the digital broadcast transition, but were still confused about why [it] was happening and what really needed to be done to prepare." It also found that nearly half (45-percent) of those who hadn't already picked up a new TV or a DTV converter box were going to "wait until after the digital deadline to take action," which is really so typical of our society, isn't it? Go ahead government, spend those advertising dollars good -- the public at large still won't do anything until their hands are forced.

[Image courtesy of StarBulletin]

Those looking for an answer to the cable or satellite question may want to turn their eyes to a recent survey by Beta Research Group, suggesting the latter group is more satisfied with their TV provider. The numbers are 72% answering "satisfied" for satellite compared to only 62% for digital cable, while 66% of people with dishes said they would definitely continue as customers, compared to 45% with cable. We're pretty sure many of those interview have HD, with discovery and History channels ranking highest among the favorites - we like them too, but can't imagine liking them as much in SD. Take a look at the read link to get a couple more notes on the methodology and findings before making a decision, but for those of you who've already faced down the choice, are you sated?

Oh, joy. Yet another report suggesting something about the year 2012 -- as if we're just going to let 'em spew anything and not check back for accuracy in 3.5 years? Anywho, not long after hearing a laughable article suggesting that Blu-ray decks would outsell DVD players by August (yes, of 2008), along comes another that makes a little more sense. The Entertainment Merchants Association's (EMA) 2008 annual report on home entertainment has found that "nearly 9 million high-definition discs were sold in 2007," and just 12,177 DVDs were released last year, down from a peak of 13,950 in 2005. More interesting, however, was the notion that "in 2012, sales of Blu-ray Discs will exceed those of standard DVDs and will generate sales of $9.5 billion," while spending on home video in general is expected to increase to $25.6 billion. Remember those days when you just couldn't find a VHS tape to save your life? You've got just under four years before that same feeling hits in relation to DVD (their assertion, not ours).

For now, the HDTV market is doing just fine as-is. We've still got stragglers seeing the light on a daily basis, and the looming DTV transition is probably pushing sales somewhat as well. However, according to Calvin Hsieh, DisplaySearch's Director of Research, the market is set to peak between 2009 and 2011. In order to grow beyond then, he suggests that the sector will have to focus on "enhanced features for TVs, such as higher resolutions, expanded broadband infrastructure, internet connectivity, versatile applications and interactive capabilities to meet the needs of the connected digital home." Hard to argue with any of that, no?

[Via The New York Times]

Yes, this really is yet another research firm chiming in on the pace at which Blu-ray is being adopted. This go 'round, we've got Futuresource digging into the numbers, though it is looking exclusively at western Europe. According to Jim Bottoms, managing director of corporate development at the outfit, the "early indications are that Blu-ray player sales are running way ahead of DVD after the same time period." He continued on to say that his firm expects some 10 million Blu-ray players (Sony's PlayStation 3 included) to be in use before 2009 dawns, whereas just 1.5 million DVD players were installed after its third year on the market. Notably, the importance of the PS3 in all of this wasn't understated, but the data didn't mention how many of those 10 million were expected to be consoles.

[Via MarketNewsGadgetTalk]

The latest Blu-ray research from The NPD Group pretty much mirrors everything else we've heard through the course of this year: BD adoption hasn't skyrocketed since the demise of HD DVD. That being the case, Blu-ray is making gains in the industry, as some 45% of surveyed HDTV owners now claim to "be familiar with Blu-ray Disc," up from 35% a year ago. It's also noted that just 6% of all respondents stated that they were aiming to purchase a BD player, but the firm did find "purchase intent to be higher [9%] among the growing population of HDTV owners." We know, the general public is still generally satisfied with vanilla DVDs, but we still maintain that BD will have its day just as soon as prices sink down to more acceptable levels.

[Image courtesy of TheDigitalBits]