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 the fastest 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 HD viewing, which requires an 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 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.
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