Hi-def not prime motivator for new TV sales

[The News Bot]

When consumers buy a high definition TV set they don’t have particularly high expectations for it, according to new market research. Most are buying them simply because they believe them to offer a higher standard of picture quality and design than their current sets. Few are thinking about adding a high definition [...]
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[Max Payne]

I think most are buying them for the wow factor myself.

Sure I have friends and family watching 42" plasmas with some of the worst reception on them (i.e. not even digital feeds) and still thinking its great because it is a "flatsceen"

They don't take criticism well, especially when I mention that the picture on their old 32" CRT was set up better for them.

Day by Day Im more convinced high def will be a niche market.

[Lewis123]

There was a time when people were buying TV's because they were HD Ready, but now the idea that getting a HD Ready TV automatically gives you high definition TV is dieing, the common comsumer is just getting them because the're flat.

Unless freeview HD happens, but then most (if not all) current HDTV's with a freeview tuner will still need an external STB for HD...

[LightningF6]

I think there's a lot in that, Max. We spent a good few months over summer saying we'd get an HDTV for xmas - and whilst I recognise prices have fallen and good deals are there to be had, frankly the overall paucity of channels & programmes, coupled with the cost of subs, made us rethink. I thought broadcasters would blitz the airwaves with HD this xmas as their almost-USP..

Yes, a 37" or 42" or bigger is great and makes you go WOW, but - and we all know this but seem to forget it in the shop - there's a reason why the TV's are always displayed at the back, well away from the windows..! My fatherinlaw bought a 37" because of very poor vision, and I'm always disappointed by the picture quality with many programmes seeming to be ever-so-slightly "fuzzy" on the "big screen" - or maybe that's my vision failing as well !

Hey-ho : another year with the 26"

[Jonstone]

Originally Posted by LightningF6

I think there's a lot in that, Max. We spent a good few months over summer saying we'd get an HDTV for xmas - and whilst I recognise prices have fallen and good deals are there to be had, frankly the overall paucity of channels & programmes, coupled with the cost of subs, made us rethink. I thought broadcasters would blitz the airwaves with HD this xmas as their almost-USP..

Yes, a 37" or 42" or bigger is great and makes you go WOW, but - and we all know this but seem to forget it in the shop - there's a reason why the TV's are always displayed at the back, well away from the windows..! My fatherinlaw bought a 37" because of very poor vision, and I'm always disappointed by the picture quality with many programmes seeming to be ever-so-slightly "fuzzy" on the "big screen" - or maybe that's my vision failing as well !

Hey-ho : another year with the 26"

Tbh I am amazed that any
of the broadcasters have hd channels yet.

It involves a lot of expense with kitting out studios and editing suites with new equipment and using upto 4 times the bandwidth over sd for broadcasting in order to hit the miniscule percentage of the viewing public who have the ability to receive such channels

[supahoops]

I have a 42" LCD TV and the picture is good enough for me to not want to bother with a HD Box, there doesnt seem to be a big enough improvement between a well calibrated screen using a standard cable box / satellite over a HD box, especially considering the extra cost involved.

I also have a PS3 and never buy Blu Ray as i think they are too overpriced and most upscaled dvd's tend to look like HD anyway!

The main reason i bought the tv was because it was flat and big!