Nielsen Releases High Definition TV (HDTV) Household Estimates for Total U.S. and Local People Meter Markets

NEW YORK, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nielsen Company today announced that 13.7% of TV households in the U.S. are equipped with an HD television and HD tuner capable of receiving signals in HD (HD Capable), while 11.3% are equipped with an HD television and HD tuner and receive at least one HD network or station (HD Receivable).

Los Angeles has the highest penetration of HD Capable homes (20.4%) and New York has the highest penetration of HD Receivable homes (17.5%). Nielsen also reports that among U.S. Hispanic or Latino households, 10.4% are HD Capable and 8.2% are HD Receivable. Among African-American households, 8.1% are HD Capable and 6.9% are HD Receivable.

The following table displays the High Definition (HD) Television Household Estimates for the Total U.S. and Local People Meter markets.

    High Definition (HD) Television Household Estimates November 2007

                                 HD                  HD

                  TV HHs       Capable      %    Receivable       %

  Total  U.S.   112,800,000  15,500,000    13.7  12,730,000      11.3

  New  York       7,391,940   1,334,840    18.1   1,293,790      17.5

  Philadelphia    2,939,950     457,900    15.6     438,110      14.9

  Detroit         1,925,460     238,830    12.4     212,370      11.0

  Boston

   (Manchester)   2,393,960     399,440    16.7     388,350      16.2

  Washington, DC

   (Hagrstwn)     2,308,290     447,160    19.4     387,680      16.8

  Atlanta         2,310,490     345,680    15.0     287,710      12.5

  Tampa-St. Pete

   (Sarasota)     1,783,910     296,300    16.6     277,970      15.6

  Chicago         3,469,110     585,960    16.9     485,580      14.0

  Houston         2,050,550     344,260    16.8     270,820      13.2

  Dallas-Ft.

   Worth          2,435,600     425,420    17.5     364,850      15.0

  Los  Angeles    5,647,440   1,152,380    20.4     965,200      17.1

  San Francisco-

   Oak-San Jose   2,419,440     397,860    16.4     320,740      13.3

  Seattle-Tacoma  1,782,040     255,960    14.4     216,530      12.2

Nielsen's HDTV household estimates are based on Nielsen samples and are updated four times a year. The HDTV estimates are based on in-home collection by Nielsen's Field staff in metered samples and are currently limited to National and Local People Meter samples. Nielsen plans to release HDTV household estimates for the remaining Area Probability Set-Meter markets in February 2008. Nielsen also plans to release HDTV household estimates for Telephone Frame Meter Markets although the timeline for this release has not yet been finalized.

DMA Media Related Universe Estimates

Nielsen also released media-related household estimates for its 210 local television markets, also called Designated Market Areas (DMAs). The DMA media- related household estimates include Cable, Digital Cable, Cable and/or ADS, ADS, DBS, 2+ Operable Sets, VCR, DVD and DVR. For more detailed information on these media-related household estimates, visit:

About The Nielsen Company

The Nielsen Company is a global information and media company with leading market positions and recognized brands in marketing information (ACNielsen), media information (Nielsen Media Research), online intelligence (NetRatings and BuzzMetrics), trade shows and business publications (Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek). The privately held company is active in more than 100 countries, with headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and New York, USA. For more information, please visit, www.nielsen.com.

Source: The Nielsen Company

CONTACT: Gary Holmes for The Nielsen Company, +1-646-654-8975

Web site: http://www.nielsenmedia.com/

Posted by Shane Sturgeon, October 30, 2007 7:59 PM