High-definition televisions are now in the majority -- but HD viewing is still far behind. Nielsen Company says 56% of TV homes have HDTV -- which can boast one of quickest adopted consumer technologies ever. But viewers haven't bought into all HDTV services. Only 13% of total day viewing on cable and 19% of viewing on broadcast television is in HD viewing, which requires and HD television and HD tuner tuned to an HD channel. Nielsen says more than 80% of TV viewing is still done in standard definition. Nielsen says 44% of homes either do not have either an HD set or HD services. Most HD homes also have at least one (SD) Standard Definition TV set. About 20% of viewing on HD sets is on SD services. Not surprisingly, the highest percentage of viewing on cable networks is with sports programming -- representing around 21% of TV homes. Younger viewers are generally the biggest HD viewers. People 18-34 represent 28% of HD sports viewers and 23% of entertainment viewers. TV news networks -- also in HD -- garnered big numbers -- 20% of 35-64 viewers and somewhat mysteriously, 22% of kids 2-11. Looking at race and ethnicity, Nielsen says about two-thirds of Asian TV homes are set up to watch HD TV, compared to about half of African-American homes.
Source: MediaPost, 11/09/2010