Japan lags on digital TV, study finds

With three years until the analog signal is switched off, only 43.3% of TV households in Japan own TVs able to receive digital broadcasts, according to a report released by the National Assn. of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan (NAB). However, only 34.8% of TV households are actually able to watch digital broadcasts, meaning that many with digital-ready sets cannot yet tune into digital broadcasts. The figures come from a NAB survey of 18,000 TV households conducted in March, with an 80.2% response rate. The far north and south of the country have the lowest digital diffusion rates -- not surprising since both areas are among the most economically depressed. According to the survey, 61% of households with annual incomes of 10 million yen ($93,210) had a digital TV, while only 24.2% of households with incomes of $18,550 or less had a digital TV.
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