Users Demand Bigger, Better TV, Digital

It's a larger world for U.S. entertainment consumers: People are buying bigger TVs, more DVR machines, faster Wi-Fi services and newer mobile devices. In its second-quarter home-technology report, The Nielsen Company says TV sets with screens 41 inches and larger continue to be big sellers.

Sales of HDTV sets have grown 26.9% and LCD flat-screen TVs are up 48.2% in the second quarter this year versus two years ago. Home Internet-broadband access is 3.8% higher in the second quarter of 2010 versus the first quarter of the year. Nielsen says 85.3% of Americans have some kind of Internet access. Wireless (Wi-Fi) home technology has grown by 24% in the last two years. Time-shifting TV machines are now in 40% of U.S. homes, with the rate of growth still strong, up 14.5% in the second quarter of this year from the first quarter. Mobile entertainment players -- MP3 units -- are now in almost 50% of U.S. homes. Apple's array of iPod units has a 63% share. Apple's iPad is now in 3.6% of U.S. homes. But not all entertainment products/services are posting increases.