Media Home Networking Growing, But PVRs Still King

In.Stat: Although media networking is growing, many owners of Media Center PCs or PCs with TV tuners are still not using them for recording TV broadcasts. Analysis shows that many of these owners are not recording TV programs on those devices, and opting instead to use their Personal Video Recorder or Digital Video Recorder instead. Wireless LAN (WLAN) is strongly preferred as the home networking technology of choice for not only experienced home network users wanting to upgrade their equipment, but also those who are planning to set up their first home network.

• There is still a low awareness of what Media Center PCs are, as evidenced by the 70% of respondents who did not have one and were unaware or barely aware of this type of device.

• While the overwhelming majority of home network users do not subscribe to any home network support services, many were interested in doing so.

• Although few respondents with a home network currently use their network for some type of home automation, a significant percentage indicated that they were interested in doing so.

Broadband Digital Homes in North America: Consumers Provide Home Networking Insights Publ 20060522