• by Wayne Friedman , November 30, 2012

DVRs have now made it into the majority of U.S. TV homes that have a multichannel programming service from a cable, satellite or telco company.

Durham, NH-based Leichtman Research Group says 52% of those that subscribe to a multinetwork programming service have digital video recorders. Leichtman Research says 4% do not subscribe to a multichannel video service. Other estimates say this number is as high at 10%.

The survey concludes 71% of telco video subscribers, 63% of satellite programming subscribers, and 42% of cable subscribers have a DVR unit.

"The percentage of all TV households in the U.S. with a DVR has essentially doubled over past five years, and DVR functionality is expanding to more TV sets in the home," stated Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group.

Looking at another time-shifting service of sorts -- video on demand -- 70% of all digital cable subscribers have used VOD services, compared to 58% in 2007, and 25% in 2004. Overall, 59% of digital cable subscribers, and 64% of telco video subscribers, have used on-demand services in the past month.

The survey also found an increase in Netflix subscribers for those who subscribe to a cable, satellite or telco TV programming service. Some 51% of Netflix subscribers subscribed to a multichannel video service in 2012. This compares to 43% in 2011 and 40% in 2010.

Leichtman adds: "Consumers are increasingly integrating DVR, as well as VOD and Netflix, on-demand TV viewing into their TV viewing patterns."

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