Broadcast supplier confidence is the highest it has been since an an organization of companies started measuring that statistic a year and a half ago.
The International Association of Broadcast Manufacturers is an industry trade association. It says more than 73 percent of suppliers reported increased long-term confidence levels in the survey by Ernst & Young. “The main reason cited for supplier optimism is the worldwide transition to HD,” it announced. Some 60 companies participate in the survey. Membership includes Harris, IBM, Sony and other companies.
More than half the suppliers expect to increase employee numbers in the next quarter.
IABM chief executive Roger Crumpton said: “The global transition to HD is picking up momentum as broadcasters and content production companies systematically upgrade their equipment to HD standards, even if they do not plan to broadcast in HD in the immediate future.
“HDTV is reaching a tipping point, spurred by the high profile launch of HD in Europe; HD is now reaching the mass market in the U.S. Technology-driven markets such as the Middle East have rapid HD uptake with Al-Jazeera being the first news channel in the world to broadcast entirely in HD.”
In Asia, the media tech industry is looking for a boost from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, has an estimated $600 million budget for 2007, it said.
