• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, May 30, 2008

The Census Bureau released some noteworthy details Thursday about the growth of American TV consumption in order to mark the "historic" February 2009 digital transition.

*There were 110 million U.S. homes with TV sets in 2006, up from 76 million in 1980.

*The average estimated hours a person (12 or older) will spend watching TV this year is 1,704 (4.7 per day), up from 1,502 (4.1) in 2000.

*98.2% of all homes had a set in 2005, the same as 1999.

*The average home had 2.6 sets in 2005, up from 1.7 in 1980.

*Analog TVs accounted for $273 million in sales last year, down from $5.8 billion in 2003.

*Digital TV sales accounted for $26.3 billion, compared to $8.7 billion in 2003.

*Average monthly basic cable rate in 2006 was $41.17. In 1975: $6.50.