HDTV: Germany at Center of Growing Industry

BERLIN, September 24/PRNewswire/ -- Every year 30 million HD-ready (high definition) televisions are sold in the European Union (EU). The European HDTV market will be the focus of the trade fair "HD-TV across Europe" taking place October 14-15, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Invest in Germany, the country's inward investment promotion agency, will be present to outline the many benefits of Germany as both a manufacturing and service location.

The European Union has set the year 2012 as the deadline for all European television stations to transfer from analogue to digital broadcasting. Germany has chosen 2010 as the year for its public broadcasters to transmit programs in HD. Already 5.3 million flat screen TVs are expected to be sold in Germany this year; 95 percent of these televisions are HD-ready. The number is expected to increase further once most broadcasters begin HD transmission. Total revenue from HD-ready television already has hit 25 billion EUR in the EU.

Eastern European countries, though not yet switched over to HD, should make the move seamlessly as the pre-existing analogue infrastructure is minimal in these states, facilitating the change to an HD infrastructure. These conditions make Germany both a growing market for HD products and put it on the doorstep to a market that is soon to blossom. The "HD-TV across Europe" congress will have an array of international speakers describing the investment landscape in Europe for HD televisions and technologies.

Both Europe's and Germany's move to HD will allow Germany to assert its position as a market leader, one that it has held for years in information and communications technologies (ICT). Germany is Europe's number one market for ICT, having obtained a 21 percent market share and having earned 146 billion EUR in revenue in 2007.

Invest in Germany will have an information stand at "HD-TV across Europe". The conference is being organized by Bitkom, the German association of information technology, telecommunication, consumer electronics and new media, and its British counterpart Intellect.

Invest in Germany is the inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. It provides investors with comprehensive support from site selection to the implementation of investment decisions.

Journalists are welcome to attend "HD-TV across Europe". To register please contact Michael Schidlack at m.schidlack@bitkom.org

Media Contact:

Eva Henkel
Invest in Germany
Phone: +49-30-200099-173
Fax: +49-30-200099-111
Email: Henkel@invest-in-germany.com

Source: Invest in Germany