Nearly half of American households to have a DVR by 2014

So, what? 2012 is too close now, so we're moving the target date for all consumer electronics-related estimates to 2014? All jesting aside, a new study from Magna asserts that by the end of 2014, some 44% of US households will have a DVR of some kind. Also by that time, the DVR will be responsible for a 4% erosion in total viewing impressions across all dayparts, but those primetime spots will become that much less important when users can simply make anytime their own personal primetime. The report also expects around 68.8 million homes to receive video-on-demand (up from 40.4 million in Q3 2008), while the number of US domiciles with broadband internet access will rise to 86.2 million from 68.3 million now. Ah, the beautiful scent of progress.

[Image courtesy of AT&T]

[daaper Posted Dec 10th 2008 9:00AM]

What amazes me is that we're not already to 50%. Do these stats include people that have made their own DVRs? Is there any way to track that or are we just including households that have ordered them from cab/sat companies? I see they say, "...have a DVR of some kind", but I'm not sure what that means exactly.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 10th 2008 9:32AM]

If there was a way to get guide information to a dvr for free there would be more stand alone DVR players on the market. That seems to be the biggest stumbling block to adoption.

[Galley Posted Dec 10th 2008 1:19PM]

TiVo's $13 monthly fee is ridiculous, and if I'm not mistaken, you pay more for additional TiVos. At least DirecTV charges a $5.99 flat fee for every DVR in your home.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 10th 2008 10:34AM]

The cable companies have a monopoly on leasing you the DVR for a monthly fee. It would be nice to be able to use your own DVR on the cable system without paying the monthly fees.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 10th 2008 4:19PM]

That is not true. You can use a Tivo, or roll your own. Eventually, with the advent of Tru2way (notwithstanding the craptacular name), you will be able to buy your own STB at retail (other then a Tivo) and use it on "any" cable system.

Its not really the Cable Companies fault that the FCC and Set top manufacturers put down mandates that prohibit them selling units outright, or transferring units from one site to another.