As broadcast subscribers have upgraded from standard- to high-definition services, DTH operators have steadily grown their ARPU numbers, according to an NSR study.
    The study, “HD to 3-D – A Harder Mountain to Climb,” shows that increases in service picture quality are consistent with DTH ARPU increases — from $50 to $80 levels.    As of the end of 2008, premium subscribers in North America numbered nearly doubled compared to subscribers of basic services, which NSR attributes to more people staying at home and watch television. “NSR expects these 24 million premium subscribers as of the end of 2009 to grow to about 38 million by 2018,” NSR said.
   Despite the HD market optimism, NSR said that it was in no hurry to adjust these statistics to account for 3-D subscribers. "As TV shipments flat line at the 33 million units per year mark [in 2009], the prospects for a ‘new and improved’ 3DTV set to make an entry in 2010 and sell 30 or 40 million units in five years time are a bit exaggerated, ” NSR said.