In-Stat/MDR Sees PVR Boom

Worldwide personal-video-recorder shipments have tripled since 2002, according to a new report from In-Stat/MDR (a sister company to Multichannel News).

The study, "Personal Video Recorders Expand Their Reach," found that worldwide unit shipments of PVR products grew from 1.5 million in 2002 to 4.6 million in 2003, and the researcher projected that shipments will top 11 million this year.

Cable operators have already installed PVR-enabled set top boxes in more than 500,000 households, In-Stat/MDR said, adding that combination DVD-PVR products and PVR-enabled satellite set-tops will continue to drive growth in 2004, accounting for almost 80% of total unit shipments.