01.03.2007

FICORA's survey on digital TV: Households put off purchasing a digital set top box

The number of households (58%) without a digital receiver but willing to buy one next summer at the earliest is higher than previously. Last autumn the corresponding figure was 48 and in the spring 47 per cent. This appears from the survey made for FICORA by TNS Gallup Oy.

The uselessness of the device is most often given as a reason for not acquiring one, but the significance of this reason has diminished all the time. Another main reason for not buying a digital receiver is that households want to wait for more advanced equipment. High price and poor supply of new contents are among more seldom given reasons.

A majority are satisfied with the functioning of the devices

In the survey carried out in January, 60 per cent of the households with a digital receiver assessed the functionality of the device with marks good or excellent. Last September-October the corresponding figure was 63 and in May 60 per cent.

The commissioning of the digital TV has been easy for a majority: 19 per cent of the households had met with difficulties at the start-up. Eight per cent of the households had had problems in connecting other devices (TB, videos, DVD) to the set-top box. Eight per cent had also had problems in tuning the channels.

About 60 per cent of digitalised households have some problems related to watching or use of the digital TV at present. In every third case the problems are related to subtitling and in every fourth case to picture quality or the device getting blocked. More seldom are mentioned total disappearance of channels, problems in the teletext or the sound. In average, the problems are regarded as rather annoying and their frequency varies a lot.

Implementation and use of the survey

FICORA had the survey made by TNS Gallup Oy in January 2007. Some 1000 persons representing households in continental Finland were interviewed for the survey. The results [PDF, 243 KB] (in Finnish) are available at FICORA's website.

To promote the implementation of digital TV in Finland, FICORA monitors by regular consumer surveys the progress of the digital TV and the functionality of the devices. The results obtained are dealt with for instance in a technical working group led by FICORA, which investigates the backgrounds of problems and seeks solutions.

Further information:
Development Managar Tiina Aaltonen, tel. +358 9 6966 430, +358 40 777 4082
Senior Adviser Harri Rasilainen, tel. +358 9 6966 784