Digital Radio Unit Shipments to Top 22 Million by 2009

In-Stat. Worldwide, the combined market of both digital satellite and terrestrial radio will grow from approximately 5 million unit shipments in 2004 to 22 million unit shipments in 2009. The primary drivers for this growth will be new and compelling content, data services, price erosion for digital radio receivers, and digital radio provider partnerships with new car manufacturerss. In the US, satellite radio is driving the digital radio market. In other markets, most notably in the UK, terrestrial digital audio broadcasting is driving it. The launch of Digital Multimedia Broadcast (DMB) services in Japan and Korea, along with increased promotional activity in Singapore, Australia and Taiwan over the next year, will drive digital radio shipments in Asia.

• Roughly 600 US AM and FM stations will broadcast in HD Radio technology by the end of 2005.

• The two US satellite radio providers have reported significant subscriber numbers; XM is on track to report over 6 million subscribers by the end of 2005, while Sirius will reach over 3 million subscribers.

• Commercial-free radio ranks as the top reason for purchasing a satellite radio, with 54% of surveyed satellite radio owners citing it.

Digital Radio: Turning Up the Volume on Satellite and Terrestrial Radio Adoption Publ 20060109