PC TV tuner market to fall 11% in 2009, says In-Stat

In-Stat did not indicate how the market will decline by value but said that moderate unit growth will resume in subsequent years, driven by digital-only tuner shipments.

One development which could drive the market upwards is the advent of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, which contains an updated Media Center with better connectivity solutions for PC-TV tuners, In-Stat said.

Other facts provided by In-Stat included:

The European region is the largest geographic market for PC TV tuners and represents more than 50 percent of worldwide revenue; PC TV tuner growth in notebook computers is expected to outpace other segments; and ATSC M&H mobile video in the U.S. may create opportunities for digital-only tuners.

"Opportunities for growth will be for hybrid analog/digital tuner manufacturers to increase share by lowering prices, or for new entrants to leapfrog the analog and hybrid segments by aggressively targeting the emerging digital-only segments, albeit with lower margins," said Gerry Kaufhold, In-Stat analyst, in a statement. "Overall, selling PC TV tuners is going to be a tougher business going forward."

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