[Satellite Today 12-5-08] The digital video recorder (DVR) market is seeing significant growth as satellite pay-TV operators face stiffer competition from terrestrial alternatives, according to IMS Research.
    The DVR market in Europe grew by 87 percent, reaching 6 million units shipped in 2007, according to “Worldwide Market for DVRs,” released Dec. 3. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for an estimated 1.4 million units in 2007 and is forecast to see the strongest compounded annual growth over the next five years. The United States remains the biggest market for DVRs with 12 million shipments in 2007.
    “One of the key drivers behind DVR rollouts in Europe has been satellite’s response to competition from digital cable and IPTV,” Anna Hunt, research director at IMS and author of the report, said in a statemnt. “Now that many European consumers know what a DVR is, we can expect word-of-mouth to propel significant growth over the next five years.”
    IMS Research forecasts the worldwide DVR market at 95.6 million units shipped in 2013, of which Europe is expected to account for 34 percent. Shipments in North America are forecast to make up a similar share that year.