IMS Research estimates that by the end of 2005, over 2.6 million households in Europe were using a DVR. By 2010, this market is forecast to reach over 41 million households. Growth is expected to come primarily from operator deployments of integrated DVRs, although DTT and FTA satellite DVRs will make a significant contribution to the total market.

Before 2005, the only successful DVR story in Europe consisted of Sky+ DVR deployments in the UK. This is now beginning to change. In 2005, various pay-TV operators, including Sky Italia, Telewest, NTL, Viasat, Casema, and Premiere, launched or announced plans to launch a DVR service. Furthermore, significant growth in DTT DVR shipments took place in 2005 thanks to strong adoption of DTT services in the UK, France and Germany.

Two factors are likely to contribute to this region’s DVR market. "As in the US, operator deployments of DVRs will be a key driver for DVR adoption across Europe," states Jack Mayo, analyst at IMS Research. "However, in Europe, unlike the US, growth of DTT services is also likely to result in a considerable number of DVR users. DTT is expected to remain the second largest platform, after satellite, for DVR adoption in Europe through 2010."

In the second edition of the study The Worldwide Market for Digital Video Recorders, IMS Research provides a comprehensive look at all the major markets for DVR. This report examines the current worldwide market for DVRs in terms of subscribers, unit shipments and revenues, with forecasts presented up to 2010. The report provides forecasts for DVRs split by reception type and by definition, and for other DVR devices such as DVD/DVR and TV/DVR equipment.