Sports Fans Drive HD Television Sales, According To New Survey

(From Millimeter HD Focus)

Sports fans are driving the sales of new high-definition televisions, according to a new survey INSIDE THE MIND
OF THE HD SPORTS FAN conducted by THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION (CEA) and THE SPORTS VIDEO GROUP (SVG).

The survey was unveiled at the first TV SPORTS SUMMIT held at THE 2006 INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW (CES).

The survey, conducted the week of December 19th, 2005, concluded that sports fans also are more eager to adopt new technologies that quickly deliver sports content than
non-sports fans.

"Sports fans are demanding the latest technologies to keep up with their favorite sports," said TIM HERBERT, CEA's senior director of consumer research. "Clearly a growing business is creating new programming to reach this affluent and influential demographic."

Highlights of the survey include:
* Nearly 60 percent of high-definition television owners consider themselves sports fans.

* Nearly 50 percent of HDTV owners cited HD sports programming as the primary force behind their HDTV purchase.

* Sports fans said their favorite sports to watch in HD include:
78 percent -- Superbowl
44 percent -- World Series
41 percent -- College Football Bowl Games

* 45 percent of HDTV sports fans would consider switching to another source of HD sports if superior to their current package.

According to the survey, HDTV sports programming has directly affected viewer's social patterns and viewing habits, which include:
* 37 percent of HD sports fans frequently invite friends or family over to their homes to watch sports events in high-definition.

* 22 percent of HD sports fans often watch sports events they otherwise would not have watched because it was high-definition.

* 39 percent of HD sports fans are extremely disappointed when a sports event they want to watch is NOT in high-definition.

* 65 percent of HDTV sports fans say SOUND is an important component of their sports viewing experience.
[Hmmm, NOT the picture?!?]

THE SPORTS TV SUMMIT was held January 6th at
THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER.